Newly sworn-in Speaker Prof Michael Aaron Oquaye has asked the country’s 275 legislators to play their part to ensure the aspirations of Ghanaians, for which they were voted into office, are fulfilled.

According to him, there are several “problems” that “confront” Ghanaians daily, for which MPs will have to do more if the lives of the governed would see an improvement.

Prof Oquaye said these in his acceptance speech following his swearing in as Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic by Chief Justice Georgina Wood in the early hours of January 7, 2017.

The former Dome Kwabenya MP told lawmakers: “It cannot be business as usual. Our people expect us to help fix the economy, provide jobs for the unemployed, improve access to and quality of education, healthcare, and generally give them hope for the future.

“This parliament is for the people of Ghana and they want us to be honest, accountable and responsive to their needs. I ask for cooperation from all and sundry to make our stewardship a shining example.”

Prof Oquaye will be assisted by Bekwai MP Joe Osei-Owusu as 1st Deputy Speaker and Alban Bagbin, MP for Nadowli-Kaleo and former Majority Leader, as Second Deputy.