Speaker of Parliament Warns Against Majority Bullying in Democracy
Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has issued a strong warning that the country’s parliamentary democracy could face significant challenges if the majority in the current House uses its numerical advantage to suppress the minority. He emphasized that the strength of a democracy lies in how it safeguards the interests of the minority and the nation as a whole, rather than allowing the majority to dominate through sheer numbers.
During a media engagement with editors and senior journalists in Accra, the Speaker highlighted the composition of the Ninth Parliament, which includes 189 MPs aligned with the government and 87 in opposition. This structure places an even greater responsibility on the Speaker to act as a stabilizing force within the legislative body.
“If I do not protect the Minority, you will not have a democratic Parliament. We must not allow the Majority to use its numbers to bully or stifle the Minority. In a democracy, the national interest, not partisan interest, must have its way,” he said.
He stressed that Parliament should function beyond party lines, with the Speaker maintaining impartiality and prioritizing what is best for the country over political loyalty.
Call for Institutional Reforms
Mr. Bagbin used the opportunity to renew his long-standing call for the separation of the Attorney-General’s office from the Ministry of Justice. He argued that merging the two was a historical misstep that undermined institutional independence.
“I am totally against fusing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. After independence, they were separate. It was academia that confused itself and combined them. We must correct this going forward,” he stated.
In addition to this, he proposed legislative reforms to ensure Parliament’s operational independence. These include:
- A Parliamentary Transition Act to manage changes in leadership and procedure after elections.
- Stronger in-house legal and constitutional advisory systems.
- Security arrangements that allow Parliament to control its own space, especially during presidential addresses.
Inclusivity and Modernisation
The Speaker outlined efforts to make Parliament more inclusive, including new Standing Orders that allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to speak in local languages and the introduction of sign language interpretation. However, he acknowledged that logistical and infrastructural limitations pose challenges to full implementation. The current chamber, originally built as a conference hall, lacks the necessary acoustics and modern ICT systems for effective parliamentary operations.
He also emphasized the need for specialized parliamentary journalists, particularly since all committee sittings are now open to the media.
“Committee work is where most of Parliament’s real debate takes place. Journalists covering Parliament must specialize. Without that, citizens cannot be fully informed,” he said.
Parliament and Role of the Media
Mr. Bagbin praised the media for its role in enhancing the country’s democratic reputation internationally. However, he urged the government to support the media sector by providing standardized conditions of service, arguing that journalism serves the public good rather than private interests.
“The products the media produce are not private goods. They are public goods, essential to our survival as a nation,” he said.
He added that challenges such as rising donor fatigue and misinformation make it even more critical for the state to support and protect credible media institutions.