There is no doubt in the minds of many responsible Ghanaians that our Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is now more than ‘a national human property’, belonging to the entire Republic of Ghana.

Though, indisputably, he is a top-notch breed of the Opposition National Democratic Congress, his arch critics, even concede that he is a very hard ‘political nut’ to crack by both sides of the ‘mainstream’ political divide in the country.

Some analysts also claim that most often, Rt. Honourable Bagbin’s  own political party finds it ‘extremely difficult’  ‘lobbying him’ to turn towards a certain direction in the august House.

Indeed, some tag him as an enigma and liken him to NPP’s  Rt. Honourable Peter Ala Adjetey (of blessed memory), the 2nd Speaker of Parliament of the 4th Republic.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines enigma as a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

Viewed as more than ‘a national human property’, many concerned admirers and critics of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are now turning their attention to his recent ‘looks’, having undergone about three medical reviews in the United Arab Emirates.

As a matter of fact, the actual nature of his sickness is unknown to the Ghanaian public.

It is, however, public Knowledge that from critical physical observation, he has lost weight considerably and looks emaciated, with apparent tiredness ‘hanging’ on his face; compared with his ‘very handsome’ physical looks in January 2021, when he was elected Speaker of Parliament.

The health of our Speaker of Parliament was highlighted by the media when he first left Ghana on November 27,  2021, for Dubai to undergo a medical review.

After two weeks in Dubai for medical review, he returned to the country in December 2021. And on January 7, 2022, he went back to Dubai for a second medical review and returned to Ghana on 23rd January, 2022.

In March 2022, he reportedly went back to Dubai for a third review,thus, raising ‘national eyebrows’.

Readers, from the foregoing, some admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are of the view that he needs to take ‘a long health break’ to cure himself, so as to recover properly before returning to preside over business of Parliament.

They argue that the SPEAKERSHIP POSITION of Parliament is an onerous national duty that constantly saps the intellect and the physical energy of the occupant and urge Rt. Honourable Bagbin to take a long break to heal himself.

Some of his admirers claim that even though he has a very ‘tough skin’  for criticisms, incessant media reports about his travels abroad for medical reviews, might psychologically affect his recovery ‘processes’ and call for his ‘hibernation’ until his full recovery.

Media reports indicate that his medical reviews in Dubai have been a source of worry to many Ghanaians, including the Majority in Parliament, especially during the consideration of the Electronic Levy Bill on the floor of Parliament.

Some media reports claim that the expenses involved in the Speaker’s medical trips are a drain on the public purse; involving airfares, per diems, medical and hotel bills.

Some of the reports alleged that Rt. Honourable Bagbin was on his medical trips with his wife and some of his children and collected allowance of $1,000 per diem while his wife took $800 per diem.

A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on March 7, 2022, however, said “the constant focus of the media on the Speaker’s medical trips to Dubai, while there is silence on the travels of other members of government is unfair and puts the Speaker up for ridicule.”

According to the statement, “what is intriguing is the focus on Mr Speaker’s travels and the efforts at exaggerating the costs.”

Responding to some of the media reports, the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, through his counsel, Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, said in a statement dated November 29, 2021, that “the Speaker being mindful of the times in which the country finds itself, travelled with a comparatively skeletal staff, taking into consideration the economic situation in the country and bearing in mind, the need for frugal and prudent spending.

“His Office, therefore, is not happy about reports on the trip, particularly on why he is accessing health care abroad, rather than at home.”

Wikipedia defines ‘need’ as, requiring something, because it is essential or very important, rather than just desirable.

This column, therefore, aligns with the admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin, to the effect that he NEEDS ‘a health break’ to fully recover; to revert to his handsomeness before returning to preside over the business of Parliament.

So, over to you, the handlers of Rt. Honourable A.S.K Bagbin.

Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

By G. Frank Asmah