By: Emmanuel Amoah
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has issued a stark warning regarding the potential for public unrest due to extreme partisanship within the legislature. He expressed concern that Parliament’s increasing focus on political divisions, rather than addressing the needs of the people, could trigger widespread dissatisfaction and unrest.
Delivering a lecture at the University of Ghana (UG) Alumni event, themed “30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy: The Journey Thus Far,” Speaker Bagbin underscored the growing erosion of public trust in Parliament. He attributed this to the body’s failure to adequately address critical national issues, which he believes has left many citizens disillusioned.
Drawing attention to recent events in Kenya and Burkina Faso, where public dissatisfaction led to violent actions against lawmakers, Bagbin warned that Ghana could face similar consequences if the current trajectory continues. He highlighted that citizens are increasingly frustrated by lawmakers who prioritize party loyalty over the collective good, further deepening the perception that Parliament is out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Ghanaians.
He emphasized that partisanship is hindering legislative progress and eroding the essential duty of serving the public interest. According to him, this disconnect risks inciting revolt, as citizens become more disillusioned with a Parliament that seems more focused on political gains than meaningful governance.
Bagbin urged Members of Parliament to recommit to a spirit of collaboration, working across party lines to restore faith in the democratic process. He stressed that Parliament must prove its relevance by holding the executive accountable and minimizing corruption and waste within the system.
Reflecting on the Kenyan and Burkinabe experiences, he warned, “Recently in Kenya, citizens went after their MPs and set part of Parliament ablaze. They said MPs were irrelevant and part of the problem instead of being the solution to their daily issues. This was ten clear years after a similar event in Burkina Faso. The message is clear: if we do not demonstrate our value to the people we represent, the writings are on the wall.”
