The Rt. Hon. Speaker A.S.K. Bagbin has paid a courtesy visit on the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, the Overlord of the Mangrugu Kingdom in his royal palace at Nareligu in the North East Region. The visit forms part of activities in the northern zone earmarked towards the celebration of 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy under the Fourth Republic.

The Rt.Hon. Speaker expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation. He commended the Nayiri for his peaceful nature which has ensured that his kingdom and the region have enjoyed peace under his leadership.

In his remarks, he informed the Nayiri that, he has been elected the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He further added that he is currently the President of the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (COSAP). According to him, he would not have achieved these feet but for the support of the members of Parliament who made him their Speaker. He took the opportunity to inform the Nayiri that, Ghana will be hosting the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from the 30th of September to the 6th of October, 2023.

The Rt.Hon. Speaker took the opportunity to invite the Nayiri to grace the public forum which will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the University of Development Studies(UDS) in Tamale which seeks to take stock of Parliament’s achievements, challenges and the way forward.

The Nayiri in his remarks indicated that he was happy to receive the Rt. Hon. Speaker who he described as very reconciliatory and edged his followers, parliamentarians, and politicians to emulate such a virtue. He added that he admires the peaceful nature and personality of the Speaker and is very optimistic that, he will be able to lead parliament for a successful term. He commended Mr. Speaker for this historic visit since this is the first time a sitting Speaker of Parliament has visited his Palace. He was accompanied by some Members of Parliament and staff of the Parliamentary Service.

A number of events have been slated for the 30th-anniversary celebrations in the northern zone which will commence with a Mock Parliament in Wa in the Upper West Region on Thursday 15th June, 2023. This would be followed by a public forum in the Northern Region at the University for Development Studies (UDS) campus on Friday the 16th of June, 2023. To climax the zonal events will be a peace walk and sporting activities to take place in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on Saturday the 17th of June 2023.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker will call on other key traditional rulers in the zone during the period of celebrations. Parliament encourages all Ghanaians to actively participate in the 30th anniversary.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah