Parliament is geared to hold its maiden edition of the Speaker’s Seminal Lecture.
The initiative which is being spearheaded by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, will be held on Tuesday, May 31 under the theme: “Parliament, Its Business and The Supreme Court in Perspective.”
In a release to announce the event, Parliament noted that “The Lecture seeks to stimulate public debate on the concept of separation of powers in the light of the Supreme Court decision in the Justice Abdulai vrs Attorney-General case, and the applicability of the political question doctrine in Ghana’s jurisprudence.”
“The event will afford key stakeholders and citizens the opportunity to reflect on how Parliament as an institution can navigate these challenges in the current context of a hung Parliament by coming up with key recommendations for consideration and implementation,” it added.
The leadership of Parliament, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, former Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Community, representatives of Civil Society Organisations, political party representatives, the Trade Unions, student leaders and the media will be present at the event.
The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Professional Studies, Accra.
The discussants are Thaddeus Sory Esq, a private legal practitioner and Managing Partner, Sory @ Law, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, a governance expert and Executive Director of Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), and Clara Beri Kassa-Tee, Private Legal Practitioner and Head of Chambers, Kasser Law Firm and lecturer at the University of Ghana Law School.
The seminar will be chaired by Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, Paramount Chief of Essikado.
The Speaker’s Seminal forum is part of the Speaker’s initiatives to bring Parliament closer to the citizens while focusing on broadening the scope of Parliamentary legislation to reflect the general composition of the Ghanaian society.
“It is the Speaker’s belief that a Parliament that is representative and reflective of the aspirations of the Ghanaian public will contribute greatly to our resolve to build a buoyant democracy. It will, in the long run, cement the gains that have been made so far and strongly position Parliament to address the many challenges in our democratic dispensation,” the statement read.