Bagbin recalls Parliament for September 29 sitting following calls to probe narcotics seizures
Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has summoned Parliament to sit on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in accordance with Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Ghana's Speaker of Parliament, has urged the ECOWAS Parliament to implement direct elections for its members, asserting it's a vital step to enhance democratic engagement and improve representation within the sub-regional organization. Direct elections would allow individuals across ECOWAS's 12-member bloc to cast their votes for their representatives, thereby increasing popular participation in the regional integration process.
Speaker Bagbin's proposal was relayed by Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the Second Deputy Speaker, during the opening of the ECOWAS Parliament's Second Extraordinary Session for 2026, currently taking place in Accra. The conference, also serving as the Sixth Legislature and the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar, is themed “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
It runs from Monday, September 21 to Sunday, September 27, 2026. Mr Asiamah emphasized Ghana's backing for a phased rollout of direct elections, stating that it would help narrow the chasm between ECOWAS citizens and regional institutions by empowering people to decide who will represent their interests at the continental level.
He reiterated that Ghana believes the future of regional integration hinges on bolstering democratic participation, thus supporting the progressive realization of direct elections for the ECOWAS Parliament. The speaker explained that transitioning to a direct electoral system would significantly bolster the ECOWAS Parliament's legitimacy and authority.
Currently, the body comprises members nominated by national parliaments, and a direct electoral process would enable citizens to have a more substantial voice in regional affairs. This proposal aligns with the broader goal of making regional integration more inclusive, responsive, and accountable to the needs and desires of the 400 million West Africans it serves.
The ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, functions as the legislative organ of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It serves as a platform for dialogue, consultation, and consensus among West Africans to advance regional integration.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
