Speaker of Parliament Advocates for Hung Parliament to Strengthen Ghana’s Democracy

In a notable address at the launch of the Democracy Cup commemorating Ghana’s 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy, Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Alban Sumani Bagbin, extolled the advantages of the country’s current hung parliament, stating it could be pivotal in fortifying Ghana’s democratic framework.

Ghana’s 8th parliament made history by failing to secure a clear majority for any political bloc, sparking debates over its efficacy in decision-making on critical national issues. Addressing these concerns, Speaker Bagbin remarked, "We are lucky that God blessed us with a hung parliament and I will encourage you to let us go that way for some time."

Highlighting the benefits, Bagbin explained, "Because that allows you to sit to reason, not to act like a mob because of the majority numbers. There is usually no time to sit and think but just rush ... so even when you win the debate, you lose the vote. So indeed, there is a lot to be grateful to the Lord Almighty for."

The Speaker emphasized that managing a hung parliament requires a shift in approach, as traditional rules designed for majoritarian systems no longer apply. "We have now re-positioned ourselves to be able to handle it better. We were applying rules that were for a majoritarian system. Now, you are running a parliament where there is no majority so you can’t apply those rules again."

Regarding the role of parliament under his leadership, Bagbin asserted, "It's inconceivable for anyone to sideline me and reduce parliament to merely a government agent." He underscored his commitment to elevating parliament beyond its historical roles, stating, "It won’t happen when I am alive."

The discourse initiated by Speaker Bagbin underscores ongoing reflections on the future of parliamentary democracy in Ghana, particularly in navigating the complexities of a hung parliament.

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