The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has rendered an unqualified apology to the Judiciary and its members following a heated exchange during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, on Monday, November 10.
Delivering the apology on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Bagbin admitted that the incident did not meet the standards expected of Ghana’s legislative institution. He stressed that Parliament must consistently uphold the highest levels of respect, restraint, and decorum, particularly in its dealings with other arms of government.
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The Speaker acknowledged that certain comments and conduct exhibited by some members of the Appointments Committee were inappropriate and could be deemed disrespectful to the Judiciary. He urged the leadership of Parliament to take proactive steps to prevent a recurrence of such lapses.
Mr Bagbin called on Members of Parliament to conduct themselves with dignity and safeguard the integrity of parliamentary proceedings. His apology has been widely viewed as a reaffirmation of Parliament’s commitment to fostering mutual respect and collaboration among the three arms of government, the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary.
Political observers have interpreted the Speaker’s remarks as a positive gesture toward strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions through dialogue and civility.
The vetting session for Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie took an unexpected turn when Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga engaged in a spirited exchange over procedural issues.
What began as remarks on parliamentary procedure by the Minority Leader, who also serves as Ranking Member of the Committee, quickly escalated into a tense debate touching on judicial independence and the limits of legislative oversight.
In an attempt to defuse tensions, Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor called for a “cocoa break” to calm tempers. However, the situation later culminated in a walkout by the Minority Caucus, led by Mr Afenyo-Markin, from the vetting session of the Chief Justice nominee.
