Accra, Ghana — Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, today formally apologised to the Judiciary for the “heated exchanges” that disrupted the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the previous day. In a rare move aimed at defusing institutional tension, Mr. Bagbin expressed deep regret and issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament, promising to use “the hammer, not the gavel,” to enforce discipline in future proceedings.
Addressing the House, the Speaker immediately sought to mend relations between the Legislature and the Judiciary, two coequal arms of government established under the 1992 Constitution. Mr. Bagbin stressed that the integrity of the constitutional framework depends on the mutual respect between state organs, reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering respect for the Judiciary under Article 125(1) of the Constitution.
He emphasized that the Judiciary must remain independent and “must not be subjected to control or direction from any person or authority,” indirectly referencing the need for restraint during the inherent political scrutiny of the vetting process.
The Speaker reminded members that Parliamentary rules caution against imputing improper motives or using disrespectful language, stating that the proceedings must always reflect the dignity and integrity of Parliament.
Mr. Bagbin confirmed that the incident involved decorum breaches and disclosed that he has formally directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee to take decisive note of the misconduct. The directive mandates that “the highest standards of civility, objectivity, and institutional respect are maintained” in all future proceedings.
The incident comes at a sensitive time as the Legislature is expected to maintain stability and cooperation with the Judiciary during high-profile political processes.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
