Alban Bagbin

Alban Bagbin is one of the most seasoned figures in Ghanaian politics, the Speaker of Parliament and one of the longest-serving parliamentarians the country has ever known, a veteran lawmaker whose career spans the entire era of the Fourth Republic.

Early life and education

He was born Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin on 24 September 1957 in Sombo, in the Upper West Region, the fourth of nine children of peasant farmers. He studied at the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, and later added an executive master's in governance and leadership.

A long parliamentary career

He was first elected to represent the Nadowli-Kaleo constituency in 1992, at the dawn of the Fourth Republic, and held the seat for seven consecutive terms, a record of longevity few can match. A member of the NDC, he rose to become Majority Leader, and also served as Minister for Health.

Speaker of Parliament

In January 2021 he was elected Speaker of Parliament, the third-highest office in the land, presiding over a closely divided house with a firm and often independent hand. He was re-elected Speaker for a second term in January 2025, cementing his standing as one of the most influential figures in Ghanaian governance.

Standing

Respected across party lines for his deep knowledge of parliamentary procedure and his defence of the legislature's independence, Alban Bagbin is one of the elder statesmen of Ghanaian democracy.