The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has criticised suggestions by some members of the public that Members of Parliament (MPs) in Ghana should be given bicycles instead of four-wheel vehicles.
Speaking at the Speaker’s Breakfast Forum on March 4, 2026, Bagbin said such comparisons between Ghana’s Parliament and that of the United Kingdom are inappropriate because the conditions of service and lifestyles in the two countries are very different.
According to him, he heard some senior citizens discussing the issue on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s television channel, GTV, where they proposed that MPs should be provided with bicycles instead of official vehicles.
Bagbin noted that MPs would not necessarily have a problem with bicycles, but stressed that the suggestion reflects a growing disconnect between Parliament and the public.
“The MPs have no problem with being given bicycles because it reduces a lot of pressure on them. With a bicycle, you know exactly how far you can go. But it is this missing link between Parliament, the MPs and our citizens that makes senior citizens go on TV to call for bicycles to be given to MPs,” he said.
He further explained that although it is sometimes common in the United Kingdom to see even a Prime Minister riding a bicycle, Ghanaian lawmakers operate in a different environment and cannot be expected to adopt the same practices.
Bagbin also expressed concern about what he described as a growing tendency for Ghanaians to undervalue their own heritage while attempting to imitate foreign lifestyles.
“I am a Ghanaian, a Dagao from the Dagaaba people, and I am asked to behave and act like a British person,” he said.
He added that such attitudes have led many people to overlook the rich history and traditions of Ghanaian communities, including those of the Dagaaba people.
Source: backstage convo
