Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called for a national conversation on the need to establish a comprehensive healthcare support scheme for Members of Parliament (MPs), citing the demanding nature of their work.
His remarks were delivered on his behalf by the First Deputy Speaker, Benard Ahiafor, during the closing ceremony of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament in Accra.
According to Mr. Bagbin, the intensity and pressure of parliamentary duties require a tailored healthcare programme to protect the well-being of lawmakers. He emphasized that Parliament must begin sincere discussions on how to address the unique health challenges legislators face due to their workload.
Under standard procedures, MPs are expected to spend five hours a day in the Chamber. However, due to legislative demands, members often exceed this, sometimes sitting for more than ten hours at a stretch. A striking example was during the passage of the Ghana Goldboard Bill in March this year, when the House closed at 3:00 a.m. after sitting for over ten hours.
In recent years, Parliament has lost several members to sudden deaths, many of which have been attributed to high blood pressure and heart failure. The most recent case was the passing of the MP for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, who died on July 7, 2025, only seven months into his first term in Parliament. Mr. Bagbin confirmed that heart failure was the cause of his death, and used the occasion to underscore the urgency of improving healthcare provisions for MPs.
Supporting the Speakerβs call, Minority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, encouraged fellow legislators to make use of the parliamentary recess to undergo medical check-ups, stressing that their health and lives matter.
During the same closing session, Mr. Bagbin encouraged MPs to reconnect with their constituents, conduct field oversight, and help strengthen Ghanaβs democratic process. He expressed appreciation for their contributions over the course of the 43 parliamentary sittings held during the ten-week meeting period between May and August.
He commended the House for its diligence in exercising legislative, oversight, and representative duties, which included key constitutional business, the presentation of the mid-year budget review, the vetting of ministerial and Supreme Court nominees, and deliberations on important national matters.
In total, thirteen bills were presented to the House during the session. Of these, eight were passed, one reached the consideration stage, two were under committee review, and two were rescinded. Among the key legislation passed were the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Bill 2025, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025, the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Amendment Bill 2025, the Social Protection Bill 2025, and the University for Development Studies Bill 2025.
The Speaker also took time to thank the leadership on both sides of the House for their cooperation, and emphasized the need for continuous consensus-building and negotiation in addressing national issues. He extended appreciation to his two deputy Speakers for managing affairs in his absence, as well as to the Clerks, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and the entire Parliamentary Service staff for their commitment and service.
Parliament has since been adjourned sine die, allowing MPs to return to their constituencies for recess.
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