Senior and Political Science Lecturer at University of Ghana, Legon Professor Ransford Gyampo has urged Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament not to pander to Members of the House who are seeking to undermine his authority as he seeks to “restore the lost glory of Parliament as countervailing authority to the powers of the executive”.
In a Facebook post on Saturday November 20, 2021, Mr. Gyampo averred that “Since 1993, Parliament has been toothless and functioned in tbe shadows of the executive merely as a rubber stamp. Rather than commending and encouraging Speaker Bagbin who is helping to stabilize the balance of power expected to exist between the executive and the legislature in a democracy, some are politically misbehaving towards him”.
He wondered if “the attitude of those who now have problem with Bagbin’s assertiveness born out of ignorance or a subservient mentality ingrained in their psyche as a result of long period of executive dominance over parliament?”
He held that there must be a power that would counter the exercise of power, adding that the comments of a few parliamentarians who only know “the bogus norm of parliamentary subservience to the executive, must be inconsequential in our quest to ensure parliamentary assertiveness and independence”.
He called on the minority group not to sit aloof and leave the battle to the Speaker alone.
Below is the full Facebook post of Prof. Ransford Yaw Gyampo
It is baffling to see some parliamentarians, particularly from the majority group, trying to undermine attempts by the Speaker to restore the lost glory of Parliament as countervailing authority to the powers of the executive.
Since 1993, Parliament has been toothless and functioned in tbe shadows of the executive merely as a rubber stamp. Rather than commending and encouraging Speaker Bagbin who is helping to stabilize the balance of power expected to exist between the executive and the legislature in a democracy, some are politically misbehaving towards him.
Is the attitude of those who now have problem with Bagbin’s assertiveness born out of ignorance or a subservient mentality ingrained in their psyche as a result of long period of executive dominance over parliament?
We’ve always had Speakers of Parliament from the camps of the ruling parties who have whipped and guided parliament into accepting executive dominance over the legislative arm of government. But Ghanaians voted for a hung parliament and parliament itself elected a Speaker outside the ruling party. Why can’t we respect this verdict and allow the Speaker to function?
Speaker Bagbin, well-meaning Ghanaians are in full support of your efforts. Do not pander to comments from parliamentarians who are yet to liberate their mentality from the shackles of overbearing executive dominance over the legislature. Steer the affairs of the House in a manner that strengthens parliament as an effective oversight body and a countervailing authority to the powers of the executive.
Don’t mind them, do your work and exercise your powers as provided by the constitution. Don’t play to the gallery. Assert the independence of parliament in a manner that forces the executive to learn the rudiments of “real politik” in their relationship with the legislature. Ghana’s democracy is evolving and we cannot have executive dominance over the other arms of government in perpetuity. There must certainly be a power that would counter the exercise of power, and the bitter comments of a few parliamentarians who only know the bogus norm of parliamentary subservience to the executive, must be inconsequential in our quest to ensure parliamentary assertiveness and independence. The minority group must not sit aloof and leave this battle to the Speaker alone!
Yaw Gyampo
A31, Prabiw
P.A.V Ansah Street
Saltpond
&
Suro Nipa House
Kubease
Larteh-Akuapim
