The decision by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, on Friday, January, 2025 to suspend three distinguished Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party—Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Hon. Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu), and Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe)—is an unfortunate overreach of parliamentary authority, a blatant display of selective justice, and an attack on the democratic principles that underpin our legislative process.

The events that transpired during the vetting of ministerial nominees were borne out of deep-seated frustrations regarding the conduct of proceedings, the disregard for due process and consensus building, and the majority’s attempt to railroad decisions without consensus building. Parliament, by its very nature, is a forum for robust debate and passionate deliberation. The unfortunate incident that led to minor property damage was not a planned disruption but a manifestation of the growing tensions caused by the Majority and their members and the failure of the Chairman of the Appointments Committee to exercise impartiality.

The Speaker’s decision to unilaterally suspend these four MPs—without due process, without an opportunity for them to be heard under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution, acting contrary to provisions in the Standing Orders 34 (1) and (2) and without first exhausting internal disciplinary mechanisms—sets a dangerous precedent. It signals an era where the Speaker can arbitrarily punish Members of Parliament based on perceived disobedience, rather than adherence to parliamentary rules and fairness.

The Speaker himself has, on numerous occasions, presided over a Parliament where similar or worse incidents occurred, yet no such punitive measures were taken. The refusal to apply the same standard in previous instances makes this decision appear politically motivated, aimed at intimidating certain Members of Parliament and silencing dissent.

It is important to recall that during previous parliamentary chaos—particularly during the controversial 2021 Speakership election, at the public hearing on the nomination for promotion of two Supreme Court Judges on the 30th July, 2024 and the brawl in parliament over E-Jevy where a member of the NDC physically assaulted a member of the Majority caucus of the 8th parliament—the Speaker adopted a reconciliatory approach at all instances. Why then does he choose, at this moment, to impose harsh and selective punishment? This inconsistency undermines his credibility as a neutral arbiter and exposes a worrying bias that must be called out.

Furthermore, the Speaker’s approach disregards the fact that Parliament is a House of debate, sometimes heated, and Members have a duty to ensure that due process is followed. The Speaker’s role is to facilitate dialogue and order, not to punish lawmakers for standing their ground in the face of procedural unfairness.

We categorically reject the suspension of these three MPs and demand an immediate reversal of this politically charged decision. If this unjustifiable action is not addressed, it will set a precedent where the Speaker becomes an unchecked authority, weaponising disciplinary measures against those who do not align with his preferred political narratives.

Parliament must remain a bastion of democracy, not an institution of oppression. The Ghanaian people deserve a Parliament where all voices are heard, not one where members are punished for their commitment to due process and accountability.

Democracy thrives on fairness and justice, and we will not sit idle while our parliamentary democracy is undermined by selective application of rules.

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