Speaker Bagbin Advocates for Ethical Standards in Politics at Global Council Meeting

The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has advocated for ethical standards in politics across the global world.

In an address delivered at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Global Council for Political Renewal (GCPR) held at George Washington University in the United States, Mr Bagbin underscored the critical importance of ethics in politics.

His speech called for a global commitment to ethical standards to safeguard democracy and public trust.

Mr Bagbin highlighted the pervasive challenges of corruption, vote rigging, and misuse of public funds. Using Africa as a case study, Speaker Bagbin emphasized the urgent need for ethical governance, particularly on the continent where weak institutions often exacerbate unethical practices.

“Unethical political conduct is rife in the world including Africa, due to weak institutions and processes, leading to loss of trust in democracy and its dividends and a threat to the legitimacy of political leaders. At the core of every democratic society lies a social contract or agreement between citizens and their leader that is built on trust and mutual respect. This bond is weakened when governance lacks ethics. When leaders prioritize personal interests over public good, democracy is at risk,” he stressed.

Mr Bagbin also noted that the ramifications of political choices extend beyond the present, affecting future generations, and thus underscored the indispensable role of ethics in government legitimacy.

“Citizens are more likely to have faith in political leadership when the leaders are ethical. Ethics helps to restore public trust, improve governance, empower citizens to participate in the political process, promote respect for the rule of law, reduce corruption and abuse of power, establish mechanisms for transparency and oversight and promote justice in the allocation of resources. Ethics also necessitate the responsiveness of political actors to the needs and concerns of the electorate. This entails taking responsibility for their actions and decisions, and being open to feedback and criticism.”

Drawing upon Ghana’s initiatives, Speaker Bagbin outlined practical steps to mitigate obstacles to ethics in politics. He cited the establishment of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and the Ghana Peace Council as examples of efforts to promote ethical conduct and resolve electoral disputes in the country. He also highlighted legislative measures, such as the Conduct of Public Officers bill, aimed at fostering accountability and integrity among public officials.

“Ghana’s Parliament also developed a comprehensive Code of Ethics and conduct to promote selflessness, integrity, objectivity, transparency, accountability and decorum in the conduct of MPs and officials of Parliament. A committee on ethics and standards has also been
established by Parliament.,” he added.

“To embed ethics in political conduct, countries must adopt strict anti-corruption laws,” Speaker Bagbin emphasized, advocating for robust measures to deter unethical behaviour. He underscored the crucial role of civil society organizations and the media as watchdogs in holding political leaders accountable.

“The task of upholding ethical standards does not rest solely on the shoulders of politicians. It is the responsibility of every citizen of a vibrant democracy to hold not only their leaders, but also themselves accountable, and demand nothing less than the highest ethical standards.”

“The prevalence of unethical practices in politics underscores the urgent need for ethics in politics globally. It can significantly restore trust, enhance governance, protect human rights, and reinforce the rule of law. Rigorously enforcing ethical standards in politics will build a culture of integrity and transparency, which are critical for sustaining democracy and for the well-being of citizens. Ethics will continue to remain an indispensable prerequisite for the functioning of a healthy democracy. May we, as citizens and leaders, strive to be the architects of a brighter future. A future where ethics reign supreme is a future in which we will all thrive,” he said.