The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been caught in a web of inconsistencies over his previous stance on budget cost for parliament orientation.
In 2023, Alban Bagbin vehemently opposed holding the orientation program at Rock City Hotel, owned by NPP MP, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, in the Eastern Region, citing cost concerns.
“As a speaker, I will not shortchange the interests of the country, just because Honourable Bryan Acheampong is my friend,” Bagbin stated at the time.
However, his current stance on the orientation program for the 9th Parliament has raised eyebrows, with many accusing him of being inconsistent.
The current orientation program is being held at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, Volta Region, which has been described as a 4-star hotel.
Bagbin, while speaking at the opening session of the orientation program, revealed that the Minority side notified him of their decision Friday, February 28 in the night.
He describes the decision as unacceptable and unfortunate given the importance of the training program.
He added that “their reason is that the cost component is too much, and they don’t want to be part of that.”
He explained that the choice of the venue and its associated cost were arrived at after a thorough assessment and review by a search party.
“There is a good reason why we choose venues for this, it’s not partisan -there is always a search party and they go around, discuss with the various hospitalities, look at the cost components, their facilities, their suitability, the convenience of your movement because there are other pressures on you and there are score marks before we decide where to go.”
This procedure, according to Speaker Bagbin, was duly followed before the Volta Serene Hotel was approved as the venue for the orientation program, which has since begun and will end on Monday, 3rd March 2025.
The Minority in Parliament has boycotted the program, citing cost concerns.
According to Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Minority Chief Whip, “We want to reduce costs. We want to reduce costs. So the last time the argument was strongly made that let’s reduce costs by having the engagement here. What has changed?”
Alban Bagbin’s response to the Minority’s boycott has been criticized, with many arguing that he has failed to provide a convincing explanation for the choice of venue.
The speaker’s previous stance on budget cost for parliament orientation has been thrown into the spotlight, with many questioning his commitment to reducing costs and ensuring transparency in the use of public resources.
In a surprising twist, Alban Bagbin’s own words have come back to haunt him.
His previous statement that “any objective person and any patriot looking at the report as a guide will not say a post-budget question will be held at Rock City” has been used against him, with many arguing that the same principle should apply to the current orientation program.
The controversy surrounding the orientation program has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
