The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on Ewurabena Aubynn, the newly inducted Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, to remain grounded, diligent, and dedicated to the trust placed in her by her constituents.
Addressing parliamentarians on the floor, the Speaker commended Aubynn on her successful assumption of office and emphasized the heavy responsibilities that come with public office.
He reminded her of the high expectations her electorate has entrusted to her.
The speaker said “I will take this opportunity to congratulate you and also urge you to be punctual, ever present in Parliament, be calm, listen more, learn from your colleagues, but please read everything, and not only the Constitution and the Standing Orders.”
He underscored the importance of her role as a beacon of hope for the people she represents.
The speaker emphasized, “You are now the hope of the people in the constituency. They are looking up to you to do something to improve their lives. It is a trust, and this I pray you don’t abuse.”
Warning against distractions that could detract from her mission, the Speaker urged Aubynn to stay focused.
“Four years is just a day. You will go back to them, and they will assess you this time based on your performance. So please don’t be misled by other people,” he remarked.
The ceremony, however, was overshadowed by a protest from members of the Minority Caucus, who staged a walkout in objection to the Speaker’s refusal to grant Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh the chance to address the House before the event.
Aubynn’s swearing-in comes after a highly contentious parliamentary rerun election in the Ablekuma North constituency.
The Electoral Commission (EC) ordered a rerun in 19 polling stations after annulling the original December 2024 results amid allegations of electoral misconduct, including multiple complaints about unauthenticated pink sheets.
During the rerun election held on Friday, July 11, Ewurabena Aubynn, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), narrowly defeated the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate Akua Afriyie, securing 34,090 votes against Afriyie’s 33,881 votes.
This slim margin marks a significant victory for Aubynn and adds to the political rivalry in the constituency.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
