Parliamentary oversight under threat – Minority
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, of creating procedural barriers that, in their view, undermine effective parliamentary oversight and debate.
Addressing the media during a press briefing dubbed “Holding Government to Account” on Monday, January 26, 2026, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the caucus has been repeatedly frustrated by the dismissal and delay of motions and questions raised on the floor of the House.
According to him, issues that ought to be debated in Parliament are increasingly being blocked through what he described as a “subtle culture of silence” driven by procedural roadblocks.
“We are aware Mr Speaker is an NDC leading member. But where he sits is to protect both of us,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said, stressing that the Speaker’s role transcends party affiliation and is critical to the growth of Ghana’s democracy.
He appealed to the Speaker to prioritise the substance of parliamentary business over technicalities, noting that equity demands fairness in the treatment of both sides of the House.
“We hereby plead with Mr Speaker that he is doing Ghana’s work and the work for the growth of democracy. He should prioritise substance over form,” the Minority Leader added.
The Minority maintained that effective democracy requires an environment where issues of national importance can be freely raised, debated, and scrutinised without undue obstruction.
