Bamford-Addo Takes Over
Rt. Hon. Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo Two hundred and twenty eight Members of Parliament (MPs) were yesterday sworn into the 230-member Parliament by the new Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo to legislate laws for the democratic governance of the country.
It was all joy and funfair in the House of the Legislature when the Members took and subscribed to the Oath of Alliance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament administered by the First Woman Speaker of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo, to commence the business of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The current Parliament which is without representatives from Asutifi South and Akwatia constituencies comprises 114 members from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), 107 from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), 2 People's National Convention (PNC) members, one from the Convention People's Party (CPP) and four independent MPs.
However, by the Standing Orders of Ghana's Legislature, there are only two Caucuses, the Majority and the Minority sides and therefore the PNC, CPP and the independent MPs would have to align to the NPP or the NDC.
The House began sitting with the election of the Speaker and two Deputies on consensual bases without the acrimony and controversy that characterized a similar event in the previous Parliament where both the NPP and the NDC confrontationally presented two Speakers for election.
This time round, the House unanimously endorsed the choice of the NDC for post of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo without hesitation, demonstrating that the House already began on the note of consensus building to move on with the business of what some political analysts have described as a hung Parliament.
She was subsequently sworn-in by the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Wood to take the Chair of the Speaker for the next four years.
Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, MP for Ave Avenor and Professor Mike Oquaye, MP for Dome-Kwabenya were also elected the new First and Second Deputy Speakers respectively.
The two new Deputy Speakers were similarly elected smoothly without any faltering, creating an atmosphere of serenity to the admiration of all present, including the Members of the Council of State and the Diplomatic Corps, the Justices of the Supreme Court, Chiefs and Traditional Leaders, representatives of political parties and the Parliamentary Press Corps.
Accepting to occupy the third highest seat of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo shouted “Order! Order!!” to the admiration of Members and all the dignitaries present.
She thanked God for bestowing the honour on her and was also grateful to the MPs for accepting her to chair the House without wavering, hoping that she would rely on the MPs in steering the affairs of the Legislature.
“Our aim is to make laws that are just for the betterment of the country and I will bring my huge experience in public life to bear on the work of the House and to discharge my duties in accordance with the rules of Parliament in the interest of the country,” Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo assured.
She paid tribute to all the past Speakers whose wisdom, justice and fairness, according to her, would inspire her to carry on with the business of the Legislature.
The new Majority Leader, Hon Alban Bagbin congratulated the Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo for accepting to be elected as the Speaker of the House.
“I highly commend you for consenting to be nominated as the Speaker of this House. I commend you 'elephantly'. It is really a joy to have you as a Speaker of Ghana. Ghana is moving up to the changes and reality of equality of gender which indicate that democracy is not just about justice and fairness or just geographical representation but it's also about gender.”
He assured the Speaker of the maximum cooperation from both the Majority and the Minority sides to make the necessary legislation that will move Ghana forward.
On his part, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the new Minority Leader was hopeful that Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo would bring experience at the Bench to bear on her work.
“Truth must be a priority in all matters and the Minority side is ready to work with you. We hope you will do your best to expand the horizon of the Legislature”.
Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo was born on March 26, 1937 and had her early secondary education at the Holy Child School, Cape Coast.
She later studied Law at the Inner Temple, London and was called to the English Bar in 1961 and subsequently to the Ghana Bar the following year.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker rose through the ranks at the Attorney-General's Department before becoming the first woman Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She also became the first woman Supreme Court Judge, Senior Advocate of Ghana and 2nd Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly in 1991.
Rt. Hon. Bamford-Addo retired as a Supreme Court Judge in October 2004 after 40 years of distinguished public service at both the Bar and the Bench.
By Awudu Mahama