Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has delivered a passionate closing address at the 4th African inter-parliamentary conference on family, sovereignty, and values, calling on African legislators to reject any notion that modernization demands the sacrifice of cultural identity.
The conference, held under the theme “Consolidating Parliamentary Consensus: Advancing the African Charter on Family Values and Sovereignty,” brought together Speakers of Parliament, Members of Parliament, policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking at a critical moment for the continent, Alban Bagbin told delegates that the decisions made in African parliaments over the next few years would determine whether Africa enters the mid-21st century as a culturally distinct and self-determined global power, or as a fragmented continent that has compromised its soul for superficial economic validation.
“We can build advanced technological economies and participate at the highest levels of global finance while remaining profoundly African,” Bagbin declared. “We do not need to become a carbon copy of any civilization to be civilized.”
To drive home his point, Alban Bagbin drew on history, citing the Benin Empire as evidence that African civilizations were capable of sophisticated urban development — with organised streets, water systems, and beautiful cities — long before colonial forces dismantled them. He argued that Africa had done it before and could do it again.
Bagbin also pointed to China as a contemporary example of a nation that has built one of the world’s most powerful economies without abandoning its cultural identity — a model he challenged African nations to emulate.
The conference was convened at a time when African family systems, sovereignty, and cherished values are being challenged by evolving social, cultural, and technological developments. The four-day gathering focused on six key areas: protection of the African family system, preservation of African culture and heritage, the role of youth in balancing tradition and modernity, moral leadership, countering negative external influences, and fostering collaboration among African states on family-related issues. Graphic OnlineGhana MPS
In his concluding remarks, Alban Bagbin directed a pointed message to fellow legislators heading back to their home countries, urging them to translate the conference’s resolutions into concrete legislative action — including active bills, robust budgetary allocations, and rigorous parliamentary oversight — rather than allowing them to gather dust in secretariat archives.
“Go home and tell your people that their representatives have resolved to protect the sanctuaries of their homes, the heritage of their ancestors, and the sovereignty of their nations,” he said.
More than 30 countries confirmed participation in the conference, reflecting the growing importance of the platform in strengthening collaboration among African nations and reinforcing the role of legislatures in preserving societal values and promoting national sovereignty
