Speaker Bagbin Warns MPs: Parliament Is Not a Stage for Showmanship; Misconduct Will Be Sanctioned
In a stern address to Parliament on May 27, 2025, Speaker Alban Bagbin admonished Members of Parliament (MPs) to maintain decorum and avoid turning parliamentary proceedings into a spectacle. He emphasized that any misconduct would be met with appropriate sanctions, reinforcing the importance of discipline, presence, and adherence to parliamentary procedures
Accra, Ghana – Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has issued a strong warning to Members of Parliament (MPs), asserting that the legislative chamber must not become a venue for theatrics and that any form of misconduct will be met with appropriate sanctions.
Addressing the House on May 27, 2025, as Parliament resumed from recess, Speaker Bagbin expressed his disappointment over previous instances of chaos and disorderliness that had brought the institution into disrepute. He emphasized that Parliament should serve as a model of public service, not a theater for showmanship.Modern Ghana
"Let me be unambiguous: no misconduct or crime will go unpunished. Members must conduct themselves with dignity. The business of this House is too important to be derailed by conduct that serves no public purpose," Bagbin stated.Modern Ghana
He further stressed the importance of civil debates and principled handling of differences, noting that the public expects intelligence and substance from their representatives, not insults and spectacle.
Reiterating his commitment to enforcing the standing orders of the House, Speaker Bagbin declared that the "honeymoon with the rules is over." He warned against disorder, absenteeism, and procedural shortcuts, emphasizing that those who wish to be heard must first be present and respect the House.
Addressing new MPs, Bagbin advised them to focus on effective committee work rather than seeking visibility through dramatic plenary sessions. He highlighted that committee participation is foundational to the legislative process and crucial for sharpening legislation and enforcing oversight.
"To our newer colleagues, let me speak without any equivocation. It is easy to be caught up in the visibility of the chamber: the cameras, the headlines, the drama of plenary. But the real test of your effectiveness lies backstage, in your committee work," he noted.
Speaker Bagbin's address serves as a clarion call for accountability and integrity within Ghana's legislative body, emphasizing that while parliamentary privileges exist to safeguard legislative independence, they should never be used as a shield against lawful scrutiny.
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