Parliament will next week commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Rt. Hon. Justice Daniel Francis Kweipe Annan, the first Speaker of the Fourth Republic, with a two-day programme to honour his contribution to Ghana’s democratic governance.
The commemorative events, to be held on July 15 and 16 under the auspices of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, will celebrate the legacy of Justice Annan, who served as Speaker of the First and Second Parliaments of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001.
Justice Annan played a pivotal role in shaping Ghana’s parliamentary democracy following the country’s return to constitutional rule in 1993 and is widely recognised for helping to establish the foundations of the Fourth Republican Parliament.
The observance will begin on Wednesday, July 15, with formal statements on the floor of Parliament by the Majority and Minority leadership, reflecting on the late Speaker’s life, public service and contributions to democratic governance.
Activities will continue on Thursday, July 16, with a wreath-laying ceremony in his honour, followed by a memorial lecture at the D. F. Annan Auditorium.
The lecture will be delivered by retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba and is expected to highlight Justice Annan’s enduring impact on Ghana’s constitutional and parliamentary development.
In a statement, Parliament said the commemoration is intended to recognise the lasting legacy of one of the country’s foremost parliamentary leaders and reaffirm the institution’s commitment to the democratic values he championed.
The Speaker of Parliament has invited members of the diplomatic community, the media, civil society organisations, stakeholders in Ghana’s democratic process and the general public to participate in the activities honouring the late statesman.
