The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), marking another significant milestone in Ghana’s leadership on the global parliamentary stage.

The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, and places Ghana at the forefront of international parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin’s new role as Chairperson of the 52-member Africa Group underscores his growing stature as a respected voice in global legislative affairs.

He also currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.

As Chairperson of the Africa Group, Speaker Bagbin will be responsible for coordinating and harmonising Africa’s common positions on key IPU policies and decisions, as well as championing the continent’s priorities on governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.

In his inaugural remarks, Rt. Hon. Bagbin expressed deep appreciation to member parliaments for their confidence in his leadership and pledged to promote unity, transparency, and democratic consolidation across Africa’s legislative institutions.

This was contained in a statement signed by David Sebastian Damoah, Office of the Speaker of Parliament.

He extended special thanks to the Nigerian delegation for seconding his nomination and commended the Senegalese delegation for their gesture of unity in withdrawing their candidate in support of consensus.

“I remain committed to fostering deeper collaboration and solidarity among African parliaments to advance the continent’s development and strengthen parliamentary democracy,” he said.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of the South African National Assembly, who was praised for her outstanding leadership and service during her tenure.

Established in the early 1950s, the Africa Geopolitical Group serves as the continental branch of the IPU, ensuring equitable representation of African parliaments on the Union’s executive bodies and coordinating regional positions on global parliamentary issues.