Speaker Bagbin commissions new Office for the Parliamentary Press Corps
“It has always been my hope that the Press Corps work under a more conducive atmosphere due to the enormous efforts you put into your work and your critical role as a link between Parliament and the citizenry,”
A new Press Center has been commissioned for the Parliamentary Press Corps of Ghana to end the several years of the toil journalists who report from the corridors of the Legislative arm of Government have been going through.
A short ceremony was held on the corridors of Parliament to officially hand over the fully air-conditioned ultramodern office space fitted with 18 Lenovo desk top computers, 2 television sets, a double decker fridge and cabinets on Friday, February 18, 2022.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin, who did the Commissioning and the official opening of the office on behalf of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service Board, underscored the need for the Parliamentary Press Corps to be well resourced in order to adequately contribute their quota to the development of the country’s democracy.
Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Speaker Bagbin said he was persuaded that a good working environment will enhance the professionalism and also improve upon effectiveness of the Press Corps.
“It has always been my hope that the Press Corps work under a more conducive atmosphere due to the enormous efforts you put into your work and your critical role as a link between Parliament and the citizenry,” he observed.
The Clerk-to-Parliament, Mr. Cyril Nsiah, on his part, the provision of this ultramodern news center is to give members of the Corps a space dedicated solely to their work to enable them write and send stories in an environment similar to those they work for the various media houses.
He however bemoaned the fact that there has been some negative reportage fueled by misconceptions about the Parliament of Ghana instead of focusing on the strengths which are worthy of emulation by other African countries. He therefore urged the Corps to keep the country’s democracy in focus in their daily duties.
“May I take the opportunity to remind members of the Corps that they owe a duty to Ghanaians and to this Parliament to ensure the effective development of a democracy that is worth emulating by other African countries.
“At the moment, there are a number of misconceptions about our Parliament and its work. And these tend to project the negative image on what should otherwise be an enviable legislature given the unique nature of our hybrid system, as well as the opportunity offered us in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic,” he observed.
The Vice Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Steven Odoi Larbi, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Dean, Simon Agianab who was unavoidably absent on the occasion, extended an appreciation to the stakeholders who contributed to the setting up of the press office.
These included: the current Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin as well as the previous Speaker of the 7th Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye; the previous Deans, Edwin Arthur and Nana Agyeman Birinkorang; and the Public Affairs Directorate.
Source: Clement Akoloh || parliamentnews360.com
