Bagbin calls for moral renewal agenda

The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament has called for a national moral renewal agenda, stressing that sustainable development cannot be achieved through infrastructure projects alone but must be built on integrity, accountability and strong national values.

Delivering an address at the National Development Conference 2026 in Gomoa Fetteh, the Speaker urged Ghanaians to place character, ethical leadership and public trust at the centre of the country’s development efforts.

The conference brought together key national leaders, including the Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and Apostle Eric Nyamekye, alongside policymakers, religious leaders, academics and development experts.

Addressing the gathering, the Speaker emphasized the inseparable relationship between morality and national progress, declaring that nations ultimately rise or fall based on the strength of their values. He argued that genuine national development should not be assessed solely by the number of roads, bridges and public infrastructure constructed but also by the quality of leadership, the stewardship of public resources and the level of trust citizens have in state institutions.

According to him, a nation’s greatest asset is not its physical infrastructure but the integrity of its people and leaders. The Speaker noted that without honesty, transparency and accountability, even significant investments in infrastructure would fail to produce lasting development.

He therefore called for a deliberate effort to rebuild public confidence in institutions through ethical leadership and responsible governance.

Highlighting Parliament’s own efforts to promote integrity, the Speaker outlined several institutional reforms aimed at strengthening accountability within the Legislature.These include the revision of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament to reinforce ethical standards and professional conduct among legislators.

He also announced the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Department within the Parliamentary Service to strengthen internal accountability mechanisms and support the fight against corruption.

In addition, he referenced the National Integrity Awards Scheme, launched in 2025, as another significant initiative designed to recognise and celebrate individuals whose conduct exemplifies honesty, transparency and ethical leadership in the country. Speaker Bagbin disclosed that the awards scheme is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba. He explained that the initiative seeks to encourage integrity across both the public and private sectors while inspiring future generations to uphold the highest ethical standards.

“When Parliament builds systems of integrity, it affirms that development is about the character of leadership and service to the common good,” the Speaker stated.

He further appealed to all stakeholders including parents, educators, religious leaders, public servants and political office holders—to contribute towards building a society grounded in honesty, patriotism and selfless service. He urged parents to raise children who value truth and integrity, public servants to place service above personal gain, and political leaders to put national interest ahead of partisan considerations.

According to him, rebuilding trust among citizens and strengthening ethical governance would create an enabling environment for investment, institutional growth and inclusive national development. “If we rebuild trust, investment will grow. If we restore integrity, institutions will flourish. If we strengthen our moral vision, sustainable national development will be a reality,” he said.

The Speaker concluded by expressing hope that the present generation of Ghanaians would be remembered for choosing character over convenience, integrity over corruption and unity over division, saying such values remain indispensable to securing a prosperous and sustainable future for the nation.

Source: Parliament Of Ghana
By: Joyce Owusu
Howedey.com reporter