The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has lauded the 8th Parliament of Ghana under the 4th Republic as unparalleled, citing its unique dynamics that prevent the dominant imposition of policies.

Speaking at a public forum in Ho to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the parliament, Bagbin highlighted the distinctive nature of the hung parliament, where the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress share equal representation.

He commended the balance between majority and minority forces, asserting that this prevents the unilateral imposition of decisions and encourages consensus-building.

“This hung parliament is not like the other parliaments, and I would want to urge all of you to let us continue along this path, and with time you will see the difference. We take time to take decisions, but we build consensus in taking the decision. We don’t push it down the throat of many people.

Bagbin stressed the importance of maintaining such equilibrium, urging voters to consider the advantages of a hung parliament where decisions are carefully deliberated and not forcefully pushed through.

He cautioned against the idea of having a single party with a significant majority, emphasizing his own experiences and the benefits of a collaborative approach to governance.The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, chaired the event and used the occasion to reflect on the national goals outlined in the 1992 constitution.

Expressing concern about the unfulfilled dreams of the founding fathers and the challenges faced by the country, he urged Parliament to assess its role in facilitating development, improving living standards, and supporting local businesses.

The forum provided a timely opportunity for introspection and evaluation of Parliament's contributions to national progress over the past 30 years.

“There are several graduates of six years standing who are still looking for jobs. What it means, therefore, is that we have not achieved the objectives of our people. You’ve not realized the dreams of our founding fathers, and of course, we have not realized the aspirations that are enshrined in our 1992 constitution”, he stressed.

“This forum would not have been happening at a better time than now, time to take stock, time for parliament to look back and ask, how much have we done to facilitate the development of the country? How much have we done to raise living standards? How much have we done to bring business to our people? That is the essence”, he added.