We should not allow others to dictate who leads the judiciary - Bagbin calls for reforms

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called for major reforms in Ghana’s judiciary, stressing that professionals within the judiciary should have a greater role in selecting their own leaders.

In a video shared by JoyNews on June 12, 2026, he argued that external influence in the appointment of heads of the judiciary should be reduced to protect independence within the justice system.

Bagbin calls for national monument in honour of Apostle Kwadwo Safo

“We do not need to be allowing other people to be appointing who should be a judge or who should be the head of the judges, and that kind of thing. They should have the opportunity to do it themselves. A profession should have the opportunity to do it,” he said.

Bagbin drew a comparison with Parliament, explaining that Members of Parliament and the Speaker are not directly appointed by the President but elected through established processes.

He said there is often public misunderstanding about how leadership in Parliament is chosen.

“After all, here [Parliament], who appoints us? Is the speaker appointed? Are the MPs appointed? No. We are elected, and I am elected by the Electoral College but in the minds of the populace, they still refer to me as appointed, and I have to keep on correcting them that I'm not the president's appointee,” he explained.

He further clarified that while the President may have input in some processes, that input does not determine the final outcome.

“No, I am not. The speaker is not appointed by the president. The president will have a say, but that say doesn't mean that that will be the decision of the House, and we've seen it in this House. At least, in my case, in 2021,” he clarified.

Bagbin noted that the Speaker’s authority ultimately comes from Parliament and not the Presidency.

Bagbin details why Anti-LGBTQ+ bill should be reconsidered

“The president's say did not carry the day. So, it means that, really, the speaker is an appointee of the MPs of the House, and so, I owe my loyalty and allegiance to them and to the nation,” he added.

Bagbin's remarks come amid growing calls for reforms in Ghana's judicial system.

MAG/VPO

📸❤️ THE GHANAWEB DAD & ME CHALLENGE IS BACK FOR ITS SECOND EDITION!