Bagbin threatens to ‘bring the hammer’ on unruly MPs

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has vowed to enforce strict discipline among lawmakers, warning that he will no longer tolerate unruly behaviour during parliamentary proceedings.

Addressing legislators on Tuesday, November 11, the Speaker said Parliament had reached a critical point where firm action was needed to protect its integrity and restore public confidence.

“I want to assure all of you that I will come back on this issue of decency, discipline and decorum. And this time, I’m coming with the hammer and not the gavel,” Speaker Bagbin declared.

His warning followed a heated confrontation between Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Baffoe-Bonnie. The exchange stemmed from Afenyo-Markin’s description of the nominee as a “disputed nominee,” a remark the Majority Leader deemed disrespectful to the Judiciary.

Mr Ayariga argued that such language risked eroding the dignity of both Parliament and the courts, while Afenyo-Markin countered that his words reflected legitimate parliamentary scrutiny rather than contempt.

Reacting to the tension, Speaker Bagbin reaffirmed Parliament’s duty to uphold the constitutional principle of separation of powers and maintain respect for the Judiciary.

“As Speaker, I wish to reaffirm Parliament’s unwavering respect for the Judiciary as a coequal arm of government under Article 125, Clause 1 of the 1992 Constitution, which vests the judicial power of Ghana in the Judiciary,” he said.

He emphasized that cooperation among the three arms of government must be guided by “mutual respect and restraint” to preserve democratic governance.

Bagbin further directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee to ensure that future vettings are conducted with professionalism and “the highest standards of civility, objectivity and institutional respect.”

“Honourable members, on your behalf, I extend our deepest apologies and assurances of Parliament’s continued respect for the Judiciary and its team members,” he added, stressing his personal commitment to upholding respect for a co-equal branch of government.