Afenyo-Markin blasts Speaker Bagbin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has launched a stinging critique of Speaker Alban Bagbin, accusing him of repeatedly permitting what he described as a dangerous “urgency culture” in Parliament, one that allows the Majority side to push bills through under certificates of urgency without the level of scrutiny the public expects.

Speaking at a media engagement as the Minority reflected on its assessment of governance and Parliament’s role in national stewardship, Afenyo-Markin said the Speaker’s posture on urgency procedures has, in several instances, “tilted toward convenience rather than caution,” undermining the House’s duty to interrogate policies, test assumptions, and protect the national interest.

According to him, while the certificate of urgency exists under parliamentary procedure to address exceptional circumstances, it has increasingly become a preferred route for the Majority to compress time, narrow debate, and limit consultation.

“Parliament cannot be reduced to a clearing house where critical bills are hurried through because the Majority says so,” Afenyo-Markin said, arguing that the Speaker must be seen as a firm guardian of process rather than an enabler of rushed lawmaking.

He warned that the consequences of weak scrutiny are not theoretical, insisting that “bad laws and poorly thought-through policies” often lead to expensive corrections later, whether through amendments, withdrawals, or implementation failures that ultimately hurt citizens.

The Minority Leader said the Speaker must resist what he described as “pressure politics” from the Majority to accelerate legislation without adequate committee review, stakeholder engagement, and a transparent explanation of why a bill qualifies as urgent.

Afenyo-Markin maintained that the Minority is not opposed to urgency where it is justified, but said it becomes problematic when used as a default option rather than an exception.

He also used the occasion to signal a more confrontational oversight posture from the Minority in the coming weeks, saying his side will intensify scrutiny of government business and challenge any attempts to “railroad” Parliament into decisions that lack clarity, data, and proper consultation.

“We will not sit quietly while Parliament’s credibility is compromised,” he said, adding that the Minority will demand fuller accountability from ministers, insist on stronger committee processes, and use parliamentary tools to slow down bills that require deeper interrogation.

Afenyo-Markin said Ghana’s democracy is strengthened not by how fast laws are passed but by how well they are examined, warning that when speed replaces scrutiny, Parliament risks losing public trust and becoming “a stage for numbers rather than a forum for substance.”

He urged the Speaker to demonstrate “visible neutrality” and apply the rules consistently, stressing that legislative integrity must override partisan convenience, especially as the House considers major policy proposals and agreements that could shape the economy and public life for years.