Haruna Iddrisu calls for ‘Minority Day’ to strengthen parliamentary democracy

Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has renewed his call for the introduction of a “Minority Day” in Ghana’s Parliament to promote inclusiveness and strengthen democratic accountability.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, the former Minority Leader argued that a specific day should be dedicated to the opposition to allow alternative perspectives to shape national debate and decision-making.

“I kept telling them to declare a ‘Minority Day’ in the standing orders of this House,” Mr. Iddrisu said. “That day must be solely reserved as a Minority Day because the best way to enrich democracy is to have the views of the other side, the opposite side of the aisle.”

He explained that such a reform would ensure that Parliament does not become an echo chamber for the ruling government but a space for constructive engagement. “We need to have a dedicated time for the political opposition for constructive alternatives, not just commentary,” he emphasized.

Mr. Iddrisu, who serves as Education Minister, also criticized Parliament’s past performance, arguing that its failure to exercise effective oversight had contributed to the country’s economic distress.

“The day the Parliament of Ghana will sit right, the Ghanaian people will smile,” he said. “A lot of the wrongs in this country exist because Parliament sits and allows it.”

Citing Ghana’s recent debt challenges, he referenced comments by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who had described the period of debt restructuring as a dark period during his administration.

Speaking at the AU‑EU High‑Level Seminar in Brussels on 2nd October 2025, Akufo-Addo described Ghana’s debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework as “one of the darkest and most painful episodes” of his presidency.

He said: “I witnessed the suffocating grip of debt on our economy and on our citizens. This deeply troubled me and still does.”

Mr. Iddrisu countered that the crisis was a direct result of weak parliamentary checks. “How did the darkest hour happen?” he asked. “It is because Parliament failed to limit him – that yes, you have the power, but don’t borrow excessively.”

He further backed proposals for empowering backbench MPs to contribute more meaningfully to the legislative process.

“I wholeheartedly support that we give backbenchers an opportunity,” he said, insisting that a more active and balanced Parliament was key to restoring public confidence in governance.