The Chaos, Cowardice, and the Collapse of Ghana’s Parliamentary Integrity

“Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests… but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole…”

Ghana’s Parliament, once hailed as a beacon of democracy in Africa, has descended into a theatre of shame and disrepute. The recent chaos that erupted during the vetting of ministerial nominees has exposed the true nature of our so-called “honourable” representatives – a collection of petty, power-hungry individuals who have utterly abandoned their duty to serve the Ghanaian people.

The scenes of lawmakers engaged in physical altercations, destroying furniture and microphones, were not the actions of statesmen, but rather, that of school bullies. These are the individuals we have entrusted to shape the policies and laws that govern our nation? God help us all.

The First Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, may have offered a mealy-mouthed apology, but his words ring hollow in the face of such despicable behaviour. How dare he claim that the “appropriate measures will be put in place to address this issue and prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future”? The damage has already been done, and the credibility of Parliament has been irrevocably tarnished.

Let us be clear: this is not an isolated incident. Time and time again, we have witnessed the shameful antics of our Members of Parliament, from physical altercations to blatant disregard for parliamentary procedures. Some members were once caught eating ballot papers. But now, they have sunk to a new low, revealing the true depth of their cowardice and lack of integrity.

The suspension of four MPs for their roles in the chaos is a sad slap on the wrist, a futile attempt to appease popular outrage. I believe the four MPs were not the only ones involved in the act. A comprehensive investigation must be performed to identify all those responsible.

Furthermore, notwithstanding our objections, the individuals should be heard. Speaker Alban Bagbin should take serious measures and hold these individuals accountable. Expulsion should be the minimum punishment for such vile behaviour, and any MP who fails to uphold the dignity of Parliament should be removed from office immediately. Aside from suspension, the culprits should be made to repay everything they have destroyed with interest. They must be used as scapegoats in order to serve as a deterrent. “The testicle that will degenerate into a hernia, it will be spotted from the first day it is seen.” – ABA Fuseini, implying that the character of Ghana’s MPs has been evident from the start.

I kept wondering if these MPs could destroy things in their various private companies because they disagreed with their business partners. Again, will they, out of dispute, arrange seats on tables in their respective homes? It is apparent that these legislators are unfit to represent the good people in their respective constituencies.

The dissolution of the current Appointments Committee is a necessary step to restore trust in the vetting process. The committee’s inability to maintain order and focus on the substantive issues at hand is a damning indictment of their leadership and professionalism.

Another question: should the Minority Leader be permitted to ask endless questions? If so, why was time allotted to the vetting of each nominee, as published? Although most of the Minority Leader’s questions are crucial, I believe time should be set out to evaluate each nominee.

It was especially troubling to hear some members of the vetting committee shout the nominees’ praise rather than asking questions. They simply have a social bond. If these members are unable to thoroughly assess the nominees, they should be removed from the committee. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes.

As much as we all want this government to succeed, we can’t sit back and let a few people joke about serious issues. However, the issue is deeper than the conduct of a few renegade MPs. It reflects the widespread misconduct that has permeated Ghana’s political environment.

These individuals are not heroes; they are cowards who have traded their principles for the trappings of power. They have forgotten that they are servants of the people, not masters to be obeyed.

The Ghanaian people deserve better. We deserve leaders who will put the country’s interests above their own petty squabbles. We deserve a Parliament that functions with dignity, respect, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of all citizens.

It is time for a reckoning. The people of Ghana must hold their elected representatives accountable, and demand that they uphold the values of democracy and service. Anything less is an unacceptable betrayal of the trust we have placed in them.

The chaos in Parliament is not just a failure of leadership; it is a testament to the corrosion of our political system. If we do not act swiftly and decisively to address this crisis, the consequences will be dire, not just for Ghana but for the very foundation of our democratic ideals.

“You have to chase the Hyena before you blame the goat.” – ABA Fuseini, highlighting the need to address the root causes of the problems in Parliament.