Lets partner for development – Speaker

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin has supported calls for deeper cooperation and intelligence sharing between Ghana and its development partners.

He said such a move will help arrest the many political uncertainties and insecurity within the West African sub-region as there were many examples of well established democracies with governance style that inspire hope and confidence.

The Speaker was addressing the French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave during a courtesy call on him in Parliament today.

Mr. Bagbin further called for the removal of the bottlenecks that inhibit the study of French language among citizens.
Ghana, he said is surrounded by French speaking countries yet the conscious effort to push the study among Ghanaians still remain marginally low.

The French Ambassador Anne Sophie Ave for her part commended Speaker Bagbin for bringing his many years’ experience to bear in presiding over the unique nature of the 8th parliament despite the many attendant challenges.

Ghana, she said will continue to receive the requisite support through cooperation to ensure that the country does not become a breeding ground for terrorist activities within the sub-region.

She expressed the readiness of the French Embassy in Ghana to regularly engage with the relevant committees of parliament to dialogue on mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu who expressed worry over the instability sweeping through the Sahel region also charged the French government to do more to fight corruption and curb the illicit transfer of funds into offshore accounts.