The Rt. Hon. Speaker of the parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has launched the Political Inclusion and Consensus Building Project an initiative by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs. A crucial initiative aimed to make cooperation a normal part of political life not an emergency measure during crisis. He noted that the launch responds to a lived reality where Ghana has successfully navigated a hung parliament where many nations have struggled, stability must never be mistaken for invulnerability.

Democracy, he stressed weakens under a winner takes all approach but flourishes when every voice contributes to shaping the national course. Political exclusion breeds frustration, mistrust and instability, whereas inclusion builds legitimacy, participation and unity. Since political parties are the gateways to representation and decision-making, inclusion must start within parties and find full expression in Parliament. When parties become rigid camps instead of bridges of ideas, governance stalls. Strong democracy does not eliminate political rivalry they civilize it, he stated.

Drawing from history, the speaker emphasized that opposition should not be mistaken for obstruction, just as governance must not become domination. The most enduring national reforms, economic recovery programmes, constitutional reforms and peace agreements have emerged not from unilateral imposition but from negotiation and shared purpose. Parliament, therefore, must be more than a voting chamber, it must listen attentively to the nation it represents.

He urged Members of Parliament to ensure that debate enlightens rather than inflames, recognizing that the dignity of Parliament shapes national discourse. Institutions alone cannot manufacture consensus people must choose it. Laws may guide conduct, but they cannot compel trust. Consensus does not mean uniformity, inclusion and dialogue does not mean the absence of competition rather, it affirms that the nation’s shared purpose is greater than its political differences.

The Speaker expressed with confidence that the initiative would strength cooperation among political parties and deepen trust within Parliament. He voiced hope that through sustained dialogue and commitment to inclusion, democratic governance would continue to serve every Ghanaian citizen.

Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman, underscored that political parties must remain competitors during elections yet partners in governance. The initiative, he emphasized, is collective in ownership and responsibility, stating the project does not belong to ACEPA nor to any single institution but to all democratic actors Parliament, political parties, civil society and citizens.

Swiss Ambassador H.E. Simone Giger described the programme as focused on strengthening capability rather than promoting ideology. She highlighted its technical support, particularly to the Office of Policy and Fiscal Analysis and clarified that Switzerland’s role is to support rather than impose models or solutions. She expressed confidence in the initiative's relevance, its design, potential impact and above all the capacity of Ghana’s Parliament particularly its young members to translate this opportunity into tangible democratic dividends.