In my recent article of November 28, 2025, titled If gold rusts, what will iron do? I stated as follows:
Commenting on my recent article Denkyira-Obuasi to Ahafo-Hwediem, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Ghana’s former Deputy African Union (AU) Chairman, quipped humorously, “Situation, No Change!”
This was his extract from my opening paragraph, which stated:
“At a funeral reception recently, a colleague asked why I sometimes refer to articles I wrote some years back!
My simple answer was, “Abed (Abednego), it is because, as we say in the military, 'situation, no change,’ when things remain unchanged.
So, while one would want to write about positive and more interesting topics on national development, galamsey, corruption, insults/unbridled arrogance, filth, bad roads, schools-under-trees, etc., still dominate news!”
I had hoped that, after my article on the “professorial-duel” between the two academics at the end of November 2025, in which I asked what legacy they were bequeathing their students, events of December 2025 would give me the opportunity to end 2025 on a “sweet” note with positive stories as my Christmas present to readers!
But alas, our “honourables” in parliament did not do me that favour!
Like many Ghanaians who watched TV on parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday night, December 9, 2025, I felt ashamed of myself as a Ghanaian seeing some of our MPs dishonour Ghanaians by their dishonourable conduct coming close to fisticuffs.
I ask the same question I asked the two senior university dons — “What are you teaching the younger generation?”
Events in December 2021 took me down memory lane to our first-year in secondary school in 1965.
The 105 of us were put in A, B and C classes of 35 boys each. Interestingly, even though we were “greenhorns” in our first year, we were addressed as Form 2 boys.
The explanation was that the regular five-year “O-Level” was being reduced to four years.
However, on February 24, 1966, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown in a Military/Police coup, leading to a reversal to the five-year “O-Level.” So, in our second year, we were again in Form Two.
As little boys in secondary school, mischief appeared part of our DNA, varying on a scale of 1-10.
Without doubt, my class 2A, notoriously topped our form with a “well-above-average” grade for mischief, despite having some fine gentlemen among us, such as, Henry Baddoo, Emmanuel Lartey and Fred Odoi, later all professors!
Responses
At Secondary/High school, teachers responded differently to our mischief. While those who believed in moral suasion appealed to our conscience, others asked God to give them patience (pronounced “paai..tience”).
In a reaction one day, an angry teacher yelled at us saying, “there are some SHEEPS among you”, to which we responded with giggles and “Sheeeeps! sheeeeeps!”
So for Methodist-Hymn-Book 318, which reads, “Souls of men, why do ye scatter like a pack of frightened sheep,” we sang it as, “why do ye scatter like a pack of frightened sheeeeeps!”
Our History teacher/master on the other hand responded calmly to our mischief. Mr SK Odamtten, later Professor Odamtten, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, aka “Kusum” taught us History. He responded to such mischief by simply saying, “I am thoroughly ashamed of you!”
Doubtlessly, that would have been his statement to our MPs in January and December 2021, and more recently on January 30, 2025, as they vandalised furniture/microphones during vetting of ministers!
History
Below is the recent history of “honourable-misconduct” which left sour tastes in Ghanaian mouths.
My article Pandemonium in Democracy’s citadels in January 2021 stated as follows:
“Early January 2021 in Accra, Ghanaians watched with total disbelief and shock our Parliament’s Chamber converted into a blend of a rugby stadium and a boxing/wrestling ring where MPs violently displayed their snatching, sprinting, slapping, stampeding and sitting-on-lap skills.
In the confusion, armed soldiers and police also entered the chamber.
On the first sitting of the Parliament on January 15, 2021, the Speaker strongly reprimanded the MPs for their “unruly behaviour” and “despicable conduct.”
December 20, 2021
The issue of a 1.75 per cent e-Levy tax in the 2022 Budget proposals sparked off controversy soon after it was presented in November 2021.
On December 20, 2021, Ghana’s Parliamentary Chamber was once again converted into a boxing/wrestling-ring/arena where MPs displayed skills Spanish matadors would have envied.
MPs boxed, punched, kicked, fought and tore clothes, as attempts were made to snatch the Speaker’s chair in a manner similar to an MP snatching a ballot box on 7 January 2021.
The Minister for Parliamentary-Affairs agreed with a radio-caller’s description of the conduct of the MPs as “shameful, embarrassing and shocking!”
Indeed, he added, “I am scandalised and ashamed to be called Leader of Parliament!”
Having descended so deeply into the gutter, can our MPs have the moral-courage/conscience to invite any Ghanaian before the Privileges Committee for a non-violent verbal comment? Privileges and responsibility are two sides of the same coin.
They therefore cannot claim privileges while reneging on their responsibilities.
Amend
Doubtlessly, many MPs are decent Ghanaians who were voted for as our representatives in Parliament.
The decent MPs therefore owe themselves and Ghanaians a responsibility of ridding Parliament of the few unrepentant kick-boxers, wrestlers and matadors whose actions constantly bring Parliament into disrepute.
As the Minister for Parliamentary-Affairs said on radio on January 3, 2022, “if only we allow the Law to work, things will work!” Charity begins at home!
Summary
Mr Speaker, you have been a father to our MPs for many years, tolerating, as you put it, their “unruly behaviour” and “despicable conduct!”
However, in addition to several admonitions, you recently told them, you will “return not with a gavel, but with a hammer!”
I wish to remind you of Shakespeare’s quote from “Julius Caesar” (Act 4, Scene 3).
“There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the floods, leads to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of our life is bound in shallows and in misery.
On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures!”
Mr Speaker, now is the time! “Let the hammer, and not the gavel, flow/speak!” Crack the whip!
Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra.
E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com
