Contrary to expectations by well-meaning Ghanaians, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, did not take disciplinary action against Members of Parliament who were involved in a chaotic incident on the Floor of the House on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
This decision has sparked growing concern among Civil Society Organizations and governance institutions about the increasing indiscipline of MPs and the frequency of disorderly conduct in Parliament.
The incident in question involved some MPs forming a human barricade around the Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, to prevent his ejection from the chamber. The action had been ordered by the Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, due to what was described as misbehaviour by Dr. Afriyie on the Floor.
When the matter was addressed in Parliament on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Speaker Bagbin indicated his reluctance to invoke the punitive powers granted him by the Constitution and parliamentary rules. Instead, he urged restraint and reflection among MPs.
“Hon. Members, I don’t need to talk to you about the powers of the Speaker. They are clearly stated in the law. You read the Parliament Act of 1965 and the Standing Orders of the House—they are actually colossal and if fully applied, will be a serious danger to the career projection of Members of Parliament,” the Speaker said.
He clarified that the matter would not be referred to any committee but had been discussed with parliamentary leadership, who agreed to resolve it internally and transparently.
“I have reviewed the records; I have listened to the leaders; and I think in the interest of all of us—particularly our rules, the order of the House, discipline, and mutual respect—I want to call on all of us to do what is proper.
We should not unilaterally override our rules, undermine authority or obstruct due process. These may endanger not only the legitimacy of our work, but they also undermine the authority, relevance, and value of Parliament—and more importantly, the very survival of our democracy.”
The Speaker concluded by calling on all members, including himself, to recommit to the values of dialogue, accountability, and the rule of law.
Source: Clement Akoloh||PNAfrica
