Accra: Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Friendship Association to enhance strategic diplomacy, promote peace, and expand trade by engaging with sister parliamentary associations worldwide. He emphasized the importance of developing comprehensive guidelines and fostering innovation in their activities.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Bagbin made these remarks at Parliament House in Accra during the inauguration of the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Friendship Association of the Ninth Parliament. He highlighted that the inauguration marks a new chapter for international diplomacy and urged the committee to operate with integrity, purposefulness, transparency, and accountability.

Mr. Bagbin stressed the critical nature of the Management Committee, urging it to be action-oriented and results-focused. He encouraged the Association to actively exchange experiences and ideas with other associations globally to foster peace and hope.

He also recommended signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with global counterparts in key areas such as trade, technology, cultural exchanges, education, and sustainable development. Additionally, Mr. Bagbin highlighted the importance of including independent and female legislators to strengthen international diplomacy for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Mr. Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, Chairman of the Management Committee and Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, affirmed the Committee's role as a vital management structure. He pledged to work diligently to ensure its effective functioning and oversight responsibilities, aiming to bring renewed hope to the Association's governance.

Mr. Maher Kheir, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Lebanon Ambassador to Ghana, expressed his commitment to collaborating with Ghana's Parliamentary Friendship Association to enhance cooperation and integration among sister associations nationwide.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, recognized national parliamentary friendship associations as crucial platforms for parliamentarians to network and address challenges faced by sister parliaments globally. He noted that these associations could also help parliamentarians contest international positions.

Mr. Jerry Ahmed Shiab, Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, representing the Minority Leader, emphasized the importance of leveraging national parliamentary friendship associations to build bridges and deepen global interactions and diplomacy among parliamentarians in response to complex global challenges.