Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has called on legislatures to actively promote hope, safeguard peace, and uphold justice, describing these principles as essential foundations for sustainable development.
He made the remarks while presenting Ghana’s position at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Istanbul, Turkey, last Friday.
On the sidelines of the conference, Bagbin also met with Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş to explore areas of shared interest during bilateral discussions.
He explained that hope represents trust in systems that foster inclusive development, protect livelihoods, and open up opportunities, especially for young people.
According to him, true peace is not simply the absence of conflict but must be built on fairness, justice, and strong institutions capable of withstanding pressure.
The Speaker further emphasised the importance of Parliaments in advancing these values, drawing attention to Ghana’s own experience in overseeing environmental governance and social protection policies.
Despite Ghana’s relative democratic stability, he pointed out that the country still grapples with issues such as inequality, unemployment among young people, limited institutional capacity, environmental challenges, and security concerns. He also referenced new threats emerging from misinformation, cyber risks, and unequal access to digital tools, as highlighted in the Ghana economic report.
Bagbin reiterated that Parliament plays a central role in shaping national development through lawmaking, oversight, and representation, helping to turn national goals into actionable policies and accountability systems.
He also referenced government efforts in education, youth empowerment, and social welfare, along with judicial reforms aimed at improving access to justice.
He therefore urged stronger cooperation between the legislature and the executive branch to better achieve citizens’ aspirations.
In conclusion, Bagbin stressed that creating a society grounded in peace, fairness, and hope requires continuous and intentional effort to protect the future of coming generations.