Speaker Bagbin Pilots Electronic Voting System, Seeks Land for Parliament

Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has announced plans to introduce an electronic voting system in the House while renewing calls for a permanent Parliamentary complex. The Speaker made the announcements on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the launch of Parliament’s Corporate Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 in Accra.

Bagbin described the electronic voting initiative as a practical step toward improving decision-making processes amid infrastructural limitations. He acknowledged difficulties Members of Parliament face, particularly during contentious decisions requiring manual vote counting.

Parliament is beginning a pilot phase of electronic voting to address challenges associated with reliance on manual processes. The Speaker stated this has sometimes slowed proceedings and placed pressure on parliamentary staff.

Bagbin explained that electronic voting would ease struggles during House decision-making. He noted the system would streamline parliamentary proceedings and improve transparency when consensus cannot be reached on legislative matters.

The Speaker also urged the Executive to allocate land near the State House for construction of a permanent Parliamentary complex. He described Parliament’s current status as tenants within the State House enclave as restrictive and inappropriate for an independent arm of government.

Bagbin said a formal request has already been forwarded to the Executive for a parcel of land close to the current location. He stressed that as an independent arm of government, Parliament requires a purpose-built complex to function effectively and symbolize institutional autonomy.

According to the Speaker, infrastructural challenges continue to affect parliamentary operations. He noted that certain facilities within the enclave are not freely accessible to Parliament without payment, including the banquet hall which has fallen into disuse.

The Corporate Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 outlines a roadmap for improving Parliament’s efficiency, oversight and public service delivery. It envisions an inclusive and proactive Legislature grounded in constitutional principles and supported by evidence-based decision-making.

Bagbin highlighted five focus areas of the plan including legislative management, parliamentary oversight and accountability, parliamentary representation, parliamentary diplomacy, and parliamentary support services. He said the plan was developed through extensive consultation with civil society, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Speaker noted the plan built on achievements of previous plans while responding to prevailing challenges and global trends. He explained it integrated key strategic and stakeholder priorities for the medium-term period from 2026 to 2030.

Notable achievements of preceding strategic plans included successful adoption of a new organizational structure which strengthened leadership capacity and improved functional alignment. That reform was complemented by improvements in Members of Parliament facilities and welfare, staff conditions of service and working environment.

Bagbin reminded Members of Parliament that the House now operates within an increasingly demanding, dynamic and uncertain global environment. He stressed that complexity of national governance is deepening and public expectations continue to rise, with rapid technological change reshaping how institutions function.

Having built and strengthened the drafting department in Parliament, the Speaker said the House no longer depends on the Office of the Attorney-General for most of its legal work. This represents enhanced institutional capacity for independent legislative drafting and review.

In October 2025, Bagbin raised concerns about limited capacity of the current parliamentary chamber. He cautioned that structural integrity of the facility could be compromised if the number of Members of Parliament continues to increase.

In 2019, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government proposed construction of a new Parliamentary chamber. The proposal faced strong opposition from the Minority in Parliament and civil society organizations, culminating in the widely publicized DropTheChamber protest.

The push for improved parliamentary infrastructure comes amid broader national discussions about strengthening democratic institutions and enhancing governance systems in Ghana. Bagbin reiterated Parliament’s commitment to strengthening democracy, transparency and accountability.

The Speaker encouraged citizens to hold public officials accountable, stating that good governance is not just a giving but the vigilance of all that keeps politicians behaving well. He emphasized Parliament’s role as a central pillar of Ghana’s democracy requiring adequate facilities to discharge its constitutional mandates.