Speaker Bagbin Has What It Takes to Lead Ghana After Mahama — Opinion
Political commentator argues Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decades of legislative and executive experience make him a strong contender in any future post-Mahama leadership conversation
Date: August 27, 2026 By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
As discussions about the future leadership of Ghana gradually emerge beyond President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, political commentator Dr. John-Baptist Naah believes one name deserves serious national consideration: Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
In a feature article, Dr. Naah argues that Speaker Bagbin’s unique blend of parliamentary, executive and constitutional experience makes him one of the most qualified public servants to lead Ghana whenever the legitimate succession conversation officially begins.
He stresses, however, that the debate should not be interpreted as a campaign but as an objective assessment of leadership credentials.
A product of Ghana’s Fourth Republic
According to the author, Speaker Bagbin’s political journey mirrors the history of Ghana’s Fourth Republic itself.
Bagbin was first elected to Parliament in 1992, serving continuously for nearly three decades before becoming Speaker of Parliament in 2021. His uninterrupted parliamentary career has given him one of the deepest institutional memories in Ghanaian politics.
Dr. Naah argues that this experience has allowed Bagbin to witness Ghanaian democracy from virtually every political angle—from opposition politics to government leadership and legislative administration.
Experience across every level of government
One of Bagbin’s strongest credentials, the article argues, is the breadth of offices he has occupied throughout his career.
Before becoming Speaker, he served as:
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Minority Leader
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Majority Leader
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Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing
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Minister for Health
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Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament
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Speaker of the Eighth and Ninth Parliaments
According to Dr. Naah, very few active Ghanaian politicians possess comparable experience across both the Executive and Legislature.
He contends that effective presidential leadership requires an understanding of governance, parliamentary procedure, policy implementation and constitutional balance—areas in which Bagbin has accumulated decades of practical experience.
Leadership during the historic Eighth Parliament
The opinion piece highlights Bagbin’s stewardship of the Eighth Parliament, describing it as one of the most politically challenging periods in Ghana’s democratic history.
Following the 2020 general elections, Parliament was evenly divided between the NDC and NPP, creating an unprecedented 137–137 split that frequently produced constitutional disputes, contentious votes, walkouts and intense political negotiations.
Dr. Naah argues that Bagbin demonstrated patience, firmness and procedural discipline while presiding over one of the country’s most difficult legislatures.
Whether or not every ruling was universally accepted, the author believes Bagbin emerged as a stabilising institutional figure during a period of significant political tension.
A reform-minded Speaker
Beyond managing parliamentary conflict, the article credits Bagbin with pursuing reforms intended to strengthen Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Among the initiatives highlighted is Parliament’s Citizens’ Bureau, which was introduced to improve engagement between lawmakers, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens.
Dr. Naah argues that Bagbin has consistently promoted:
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Parliamentary autonomy
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Citizen participation
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Institutional accountability
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Democratic governance
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Stronger legislative oversight
He believes these reforms reflect the kind of institutional thinking required of future national leadership.
Familiar with presidential ambition
The feature also recalls that Bagbin is no stranger to presidential politics.
He contested the 2019 NDC presidential primaries, where former President John Mahama secured an overwhelming victory. Although Bagbin did not win the contest, the author argues that his years as Speaker have significantly strengthened his national leadership profile since then.
Rather than focusing on the outcome of the 2019 race, Dr. Naah suggests Ghanaians should assess the experience and institutional record Bagbin has built over the years.
The post-Mahama conversation
The opinion concludes by urging both the National Democratic Congress and the wider Ghanaian public to prioritize competence, experience, integrity and tested public service whenever the country eventually begins discussing leadership beyond President Mahama.
Importantly, Dr. Naah acknowledges that President Mahama currently holds the democratic mandate of Ghanaians and notes that the NDC Council of Elders has already discouraged premature presidential campaigning until the party officially opens the succession process.
His argument is therefore not that Bagbin should automatically become Ghana’s next President, but that his record deserves serious examination alongside any future contenders.
An opinion, not party policy
The article represents the views of Dr. John-Baptist Naah and should not be interpreted as an official position of the National Democratic Congress, Parliament or the Government of Ghana.
As Ghana’s political future gradually comes into focus, the feature insists that the presidency should never become an experiment in popularity alone—but a careful choice grounded in proven leadership, institutional experience and public service.
