The International Conference of Chief Justices of the World (ICCIW) has decorated the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, with the Mahatma Gandhi Award for World Unity.
The award was in recognition of the Speaker’s support for children’s appeal for world unity, world peace, and for a safe and secure future for over 2.5 billion children and generations yet-to-be-born.
The accolade was bestowed on the Speaker at the 26th ICCIW gathering in Lucknow in India. The meeting meeting was from November 19 to 24, 2025.
The award, which was also given to other global leaders such as the Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, was received by Ambassador Jonathan Rexford Magnussen on behalf of the Speaker.
The award adds to a streak of honours and leadership positions conferred on Ghana’s Speaker Bagbin for his international statesmanship and global democracy-enhancing credentials.
Deep commitment
Handing over the award, the Project Leader of ICCJW, Professor Sandeep Srivastava, eulogised Mr Bagbin for his deep commitment to sowing peace across the world, and his passionate drive to protect thousands of children worldwide from the ravages of war.
“The world is in dire need of leaders like Rt. Hon. Bagbin who secretes the milk of love and kindness to nourish children into becoming the Mahatma Gandhis, Kwame Nkrumah’s and Nelson Mandela’s of tomorrow,” he said.
Profound gratitude
On behalf of the Speaker, Ambassador Magnussen expressed profound gratitude to the organisers of the 26th ICCJW for the recognition accorded Ghana’s Speaker.
He pledged Mr Bagbin's continued commitment to championing unity and peace in the world.
“Mr Bagbin is a global parliamentary colossus with enormous respect and influence on international parliamentary affairs and is an acclaimed peace broker who is currently a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Task Force charged with resolving the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said.
The 26th ICCJW was convened to address rising global wars, climate-induced crises, and fractured governance at a time when, according to the UNHCR Global Trends Report for 2024, conflicts displaced over 123.2 million people globally in 2024.
The conference resolved that the world desperately needs a renewed framework for collective security, and that the United Nations can draw inspiration from Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, which advocates for the promotion of international peace and security, maintaining just and honourable relations, respect for international law, and the settlement of disputes through arbitration.
A major highlight of the Conference was the conferment of awards on world leaders who symbolised global unity and peace.
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