The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been appointed as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine. The IPU President, who appointed Speaker Bagbin, emphasised his “integrity, impartiality, and ability to build trust with all parties.”
Speaker Bagbin joins seven other distinguished parliamentarians on the Task Force, which includes representatives from all six IPU geopolitical groups. Martin Chungong, the Secretary General of the IPU, expressed confidence in Bagbin’s leadership and experience, stating in a letter, “We are confident that your leadership and experience will enhance the work and impact of the Task Force in its mission to support diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.”
Established as an ad-hoc body in March 2022, the IPU Task Force has facilitated dialogue between parliamentarians in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, allowing the Union to use its resources to promote dialogue. Since its formation, the Task Force has convened no less than thirteen meetings and conducted a mission to Kyiv and Moscow in July 2022.
It has also held separate consultations with parliamentary delegations from Ukraine and Russia every six months during IPU Assemblies. At a time when avenues for dialogue are scarce, this Task Force remains one of the few platforms where both Ukrainian and Russian parliamentarians continue to engage. As a seasoned international peace negotiator and broker, Speaker Bagbin’s inclusion in the Taskforce positions it for renewed resolve to broker peace in Ukraine.
In his capacity as a member of the Taskforce, the Speaker will attend in-person meetings during IPU Assemblies, participate in hearings and discussions with the Ukrainian and Russian IPU delegations, and dialogue with government leaders from the feuding countries with the ultimate aim of dousing the war in Ukraine.
Source: Eric Mensah-Ayettey
