The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on Ghanaians to prioritise moral renewal as the foundation for sustainable national development.
He emphasised that development cannot be measured by roads and infrastructure alone, but by the character of leadership and stewardship of public trust.
He made the call during an address at the National Development Conference 2026 in Gomoa Fetteh, the Speaker declared that “nations rise or fall on the strength of their values.”
The Speaker highlighted concrete steps Parliament has taken to institutionalise integrity, including the revision of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament, the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Department within the Parliamentary Service, and the launch of the National Integrity Awards Scheme in 2025.
He noted that the Scheme, now chaired by His Lordship Justice William Atuguba (rtd), recognises individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to honesty and transparency.
The Speaker affirmed that “when Parliament builds systems of integrity, it affirms that development is about the character of leadership and service to the common good.”
He concluded his statement with a call to national action and urged Ghanaians to raise children who value truth, public servants who choose service over self-interest, and leaders who place national interest above partisan gain.
“If we rebuild trust, investment will grow. If we restore integrity, institutions will flourish. If we strengthen our moral vision, sustainable national development will be a reality,” he stated.
The Speaker further prayed that this generation would be remembered as one that chose character over convenience and unity over division.
The conference has in attendance distinguished personalities including H.E. Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and Apostle Eric Nyamekye.
