Speaker pleads tolerance for Parliament

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, has pleaded with Ghanaians to be more tolerant of what happens in the House.

He said the results of the 2020 elections brought a new order of political engagement and in effect, the character and norms of the power game changed, especially in Parliament.

In his opening remarks for the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament, he said the ultra-majoritarian rule, where the Majority party marshalled its numerical strength to back the Presidents’ policy or programme, leaving no space for dialogue, compromise and consensus building was no more existent.

He said the outcome of the elections signified two things; which are, a rejection of the practice of blind, unbridled and excessive partisanship in politics, the winner-take-all option; and blind, partisan opposition and obstruction of government policy.

“The preference is for the practice of dialogue, coordination, cooperation, consultation, compromise and consensus building. The clarion call in our dear nation today, is now Ghana first, everything else second,” he stated

Hung Parliament

He said the product of a hung Parliament marked a clear departure from the mantle, “let the minority have its’ say, and the majority its way.”

He noted that democracy had long gone beyond majority rule to participatory and inclusive governance – a type of governance where both the majority and minority would have their say, but the national interest would have its way.

“Hon. members, we should not also forget that this is in tune with the spirit and letter of the 1992 Constitution. The 1992 Constitution creates an opportunity for either a majority or a minority government or even an independent President to rule in the country.

“It is important, as a people and nation, we take serious note of these possibilities and work on the current state of our mind sets, conduct and attitude, to accept any of these decisions of the electorates whenever it is so decided,” he stated.

Teething challenges

Mr Bagbin noted that it was understandable that teething problems and challenges would emerge from practising such a system.

“This will definitely produce friction and uncertainty in the initial stages. These transitional problems and challenges should not deter us as a people and country from doing what is right and just.

“What is right as enjoined by Chapter six of the 1992 Constitution, - the Directive Principles of State Policy, - is to establish and practice a just, balanced, open, transparent, fair and free society. The country could only achieve this when Parliament matures into an autonomous organ of state, able to define its relationship with the executive as one of equal and coordinate powers,” he stated.

He said that was the only way to sustain, consolidate and secure multiparty democracy in Ghana, stating that “it is only there and then that the dividends of democracy could accrue and seep down to the ordinary Ghanaians”.

“It is also important to acknowledge that in the midst of the teething challenges of disharmony and discord, Parliament has given a clear indication of taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a hung Parliament.

“It ought to be clear to Ghanaians by now that Parliament has taken some steps to claw back a bit of its lost image and brand as a willing tool of the Executive. This gives a glimmer of hope that Parliament will not continue to be in the belly of or a rubber stamp of the Executive,” he pointed out.

Lessons have been learnt

The Speaker, however, noted that lessons had been learnt from the first session of Parliament and all members must pledge not to see, particularly, a repeat of those violent nasty scenes, as well as defend and uphold the image of Parliament.

To achieve this, he said, together with his deputies and leadership, they would hold members to strict adherence to the rules, ethics, courtesies, and code of conduct of Members of Parliament.

“We will work to promote disorderly behaviour and use of decent parliamentary language in the deliberations of the House.

“More efforts will be put into organising fora and workshops to enlighten members on these rules, norms and ethics of civil behaviour and conduct. Parliament will do all it can to create the environment for a collective effort to educate and inculcate the culture of a democratic society in the country,” he said.