The Speaker of Parliament of Ghana, Alban Bagbin, has renewed his long-standing call for a permanent Parliament House, urging the Executive to release land close to the State House for the construction of a dedicated parliamentary complex.
Mr. Bagbin made the appeal on Thursday, February 12, during the launch of Parliament’s Corporate Strategic Plan for 2026–2030. He expressed frustration that Ghana’s Legislature—an independent arm of government—continues to operate as a tenant within the State House complex.
According to the Speaker, the current arrangement limits Parliament’s efficiency and independence.
“We have been crying, and I hope you will support us so that at least we should be liberated from being tenants of the State House to our own premises as an arm of government,” he said.
Space Constraints Slowing Parliamentary Work
Mr. Bagbin pointed to persistent infrastructural challenges that, in his view, complicate decision-making in the House—especially during votes where consensus is difficult to achieve.
He explained that Parliament is now piloting an electronic voting system aimed at improving accuracy and speed in decision-making.
“We believe e-voting will ease all the struggles when it comes to decision-making in the House,” he noted.
Limited Access, Extra Costs
Despite ongoing efforts to modernise existing facilities, the Speaker said the infrastructure available to Parliament remains inadequate. He also revealed that some facilities within the State House complex are not freely accessible to Parliament.
“Some of the structures we have here, we cannot even have access to them unless we pay, including the banquet hall,” he disclosed.
For Mr. Bagbin, these limitations further strengthen the case for a purpose-built Parliament House that fully reflects the status of the Legislature as a pillar of Ghana’s democracy.
A Long-Standing Debate
Calls for a new parliamentary complex are not new. In 2019, the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) government proposed the construction of a new parliamentary chamber. The plan, however, faced stiff resistance from the Minority in Parliament and civil society groups, leading to nationwide protests.
Following intense public backlash, Parliament suspended the proposed project.
Renewed Push for a Permanent Seat
Mr. Bagbin believes the time has come to revisit the issue, stressing that a permanent Parliament House would enhance the Legislature’s independence, efficiency, and dignity.
“We need to have a permanent seat for the pillar of democracy to be housed—a true Parliament House,” he said.
For now, the Speaker is calling on the Executive to take the first step by releasing land, reigniting a national conversation about the future home of Ghana’s Parliament.
Source: Africa Publicity
