SPEAKER Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho has vacated the Akatsi South seat in Parliament following his election to preside over proceedings in the country’s legislature, paving the way for a bye-election soon.

Apart from the Assin Central MP-elect Kennedy Agyepong, all Members of Parliament for the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic were subsequently sworn into office by Speaker Adjaho around 1:20 am of Monday January 7, 2013.

Adjaho was unanimously elected by both sides of the House having been proposed by the majority National Democratic Congress (NDC) side in Parliament as the sole candidate for the speakership position.

He has become the fifth Speaker of the Fourth Republic following the illustrious works of Justice D. F. Annan, Peter Ala Adjetey, Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes and Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo.

Ebo Barton-Odro and Joe Ghartey were also elected First and Second Deputy Speakers respectively without a finger being raised by any lawmaker.

DAILY GUIDE had predicted weeks ago that the former Avenor/Ave MP, Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho will get the speakership slot ahead of two other political big shots, Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah and former second deputy speaker of parliament Ken Dzirasah whose names had popped up for the third highest post of the land.

Adjaho’s election and his subsequent swearing in by Chief Justice Georgina Wood was conducted in an atmosphere of conviviality as he humorously allayed the fears of the minority side that he will be non-partisan in the discharge of his duties.

Until his election for the current post, Adjaho was the First Deputy Speaker in the previous Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, having risen through the ranks in the legislature for the past 20 years.

In his acceptance speech, the new speaker congratulated all those who contributed in diverse ways to his election to the top post, promising the minority NPP he will be fair and impartial at all times because he was “deeply humbled by this gesture from both sides of the House.”

“I wish to assure the Hon. Minority Leader that in the performance of my duties, I would not be ‘capricious and whimsical’. To the Hon. Member for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, I have handed over the title of the ‘forces of darkness’ to the Hon. Minority Leader,” Adjaho gave the assurance, generating uncontrollable laughter from members.

He pledged to serve the House and uphold its dignity as the first Member of Ghana’s Parliament to become the Speaker of the House in recent memory.

“I will draw upon the great legacy of our immediate past Speakers, Rt. Honourable Justice Bamford-Addo and Rt. Honourable Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes”.

According to Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, as the first female speaker in Ghana’s history, Justice Bamford-Addo had been a great mentor and guide to him in the discharge of his duties as the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

He also eulogized Speakers Ala Adjatey and Justice Annan for their distinguished work in entrenching the country’s parliamentary democracy.

“I, on my part, will bring the vast experience acquired over the past twenty years in the House to my new role. Let me assure you that in all my endeavours, I will be guided by the tenets of discipline, humility, diligence, maturity and fairness.

“I also pledge to discharge my duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and Parliament rules and regulations”, Adjaho said, urging all MPs to be focused on the business of the House and learn to conduct themselves with outmost discipline, dignity, humility and respect.

“My determination will be to preside over this House in order to further deepen the practice of Parliamentary democracy in Ghana”, he added.