Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that he only travelled with four officials to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for his routine medical check-up.
According to him, the four officials excluded his Aide De Camp, Protocol Officer, Butler and other relevant staff.
In a statement issued by his office and signed by his Counsel, Magnus Kofi Amoatey who was once NDC MP for Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region, the Speaker insisted that he is entitled to state-sponsored medical review, noting that it is part of his service condition.
“Speakers of Ghana’s Parliament are entitled to such routine medical check-ups, just like officials of the Executive and Judiciary arms of government,” the statement stressed.
“The attention of the Office of the Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin has been drawn to the circulation of a communication between Parliament’s Parliamentary Relations and Protocol Office and the Consulate General of Ghana in Dubai. The said document is in regard to the Rt. Hon. Speaker’s trip to Dubai for a routine medical check-up.
“Let it be placed on record that the Speaker is accompanied by four officials, to the exclusion of his Aide De Camp, Protocol Officer, Butler and other relevant staff. The Speaker’s office will again like to state that, as part of their conditions of service, Speakers of Ghana’s Parliament are entitled to such routine medical check-ups, just like the officials of the Executive and Judiciary arms of government.”
Mr. Bagbin said “it is trite knowledge that most staff of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies also have similar facilities at their disposal and continue to take advantage of such arrangements to their benefit.”
“Indeed, the records of the Parliamentary Service are replete with evidence which point to the fact that all Speakers of the Fourth Republican Parliaments have at one time or another, accessed this facility,” he continued.
He noted that it is not only the Speaker of Parliament and his Deputies that are entitled to such a facility but that the entire leadership of the House are also entitled to the same facility and continually resort to it when the need arises.
“The current Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, being mindful of the times in which the country finds itself travelled with a comparatively skeletal staff, taking into consideration the economic situation in the country and bearing in mind, the need for frugal and prudent spending.”
The statement added that the Speaker had on a number of occasions stated openly “and continues to maintain his position for Members of Parliament to help safeguard the public purse and so has been mindful of the same in all his dealings as Speaker.”
“The Office of the Speaker wishes to assure the general citizenry of its commitment to protect the public purse at all times. Parliament is also committed to seeking the best interest of the people they represent and will continue to always do so.
“The Speaker is mindful of the fact that in the course of their duties, Members of the House may disagree on issues on the floor, but these are all based on procedures, which govern the work of the House and which are strictly adhered to without fear or favour,” the statement stressed.
“The office will advise that the health issues of the Speaker and that of other office bearers are not politicised as anybody could be taken ill at any time. It is an undeniable fact that the Membership of the House is one whole group, with a common agenda and destiny,” the statement concluded.
By Ernest Kofi Adu