Speaker Bagbin promises journalists online access to Parliament’s records by end of 2026

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has promised to introduce an online system to give journalists direct access to parliamentary information by the end of 2026.

The initiative, he said, would reduce journalists' reliance on formal Right to Information (RTI) requests and make it easier for them to obtain information on the activities of Parliament without having to visit the House.

Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on November 7, 2026, Mr Bagbin said Parliament was undertaking institutional reforms to improve access to information and strengthen its engagement with the media.

“Very soon, you don’t even need to walk to Parliament. With the touch of a button, you can access all information you need from Parliament. That is what is going to happen before the end of this year,” he said.

He explained that Parliament wanted journalists to have ready access to information to support their work rather than depend on the RTI process to obtain parliamentary records.

Mr Bagbin said the reforms also included changes to Parliament's communication structures to improve public engagement and the flow of information.

He said the Public Affairs Department had been strengthened, while a Public Engagement Department and a Media Relations Department had been established alongside the Citizens Bureau.

According to him, the changes were intended to make Parliament more accessible to journalists and the general public.

The Speaker described the media as an important partner in Ghana's democratic governance, saying journalists played a major role in helping citizens understand legislation, follow parliamentary debates, and assess the performance of their elected representatives.

He urged media practitioners to provide fair and informed coverage of parliamentary proceedings and assured them of Parliament's readiness to engage with them.

“The House is your house. Walk in any time with the confidence and pride that an heir apparent enters the palace,” he said.

Mr Bagbin said the relationship between Parliament and the media was inseparable, as journalists helped promote transparency, accountability and good governance.

He commended Ghanaian journalists for their investigative work on corruption, human rights abuses, illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and child abuse in schools.

He said such investigations had helped expose wrongdoing, prompt policy changes and promote accountability in public administration.

On the welfare of journalists, the Speaker expressed concern about poor remuneration, job insecurity, inadequate working conditions and threats to their personal safety.

He said journalists needed decent working conditions and independence to perform their duties effectively and contribute to the country's democratic development.

Mr Bagbin said Parliament was prepared to work with the GJA to develop a Private Member's Bill to establish minimum conditions of service for journalists.

He explained that the proposed legislation would be developed in consultation with the association and other relevant stakeholders, rather than waiting for the Executive to initiate the process.

He assured the journalists that he would work to ensure the proposal materialised and did not become another unfulfilled political promise.

The Speaker also cautioned that legislation alone would not guarantee the safety of journalists, calling on law enforcement agencies, political actors, media owners, traditional authorities and the public to respect their work and protect independent journalism.

He urged media practitioners to uphold professional standards and guard against misinformation, warning against the spread of falsehoods capable of distorting public understanding and creating divisions in society.

Quoting Pope Leo XIV, Mr Bagbin encouraged journalists to resist those who used falsehoods to divide society and manipulate public opinion.

The 30th GJA Media Awards were held under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age”.

The ceremony marked 30 years of recognising journalistic work and contributions to Ghana's democratic development.