Parliament has officially received the Special Award and GJA Hall of Fame induction bestowed on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, following his decision to hand over the honour to the House.
Addressing lawmakers on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Speaker Bagbin revealed that the recognition was conferred on him during the 30th GJA Media Awards held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday, November 6.
He explained that the prestigious accolade was given in appreciation of his long-standing commitment to advancing media development and defending press freedom in Ghana.
“This is a statement I am making to dedicate to you, the Parliament, an award from the Ghana Journalists Association,” Speaker Bagbin announced to the House.
“I cannot claim sole glory for the honour done me. The institution which paved the way for my long relations with the media must be credited with the award. Therefore, I have decided to donate this award to Parliament,” he added.
Reflecting on his journey, the Speaker recalled working closely with the Parliamentary Press Corps right from the birth of the Fourth Republic in January 1993. He highlighted how he watched journalists build the press corps from the ground up to support Parliament in strengthening the country’s democratic foundation.
“From the very onset of the Fourth Republic, I recognized the centrality of the work of the media in the growth of the Republic,” he stressed.
He pointed out that this belief pushed him to actively support training and capacity-building opportunities for journalists across the nation, without considering their political leanings or media affiliations.
Insisting that the award is a collective achievement, Speaker Bagbin stated that the honour belongs to every section of the legislature—including the leadership, MPs, the Clerk to Parliament, and the entire Parliamentary Service staff.
He praised the daily dedication within the House, noting how he has watched both sides of the aisle work through tough national issues together, while parliamentary staff work late into the night compiling order papers, committee reports, and the official Hansard.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
