The Majority in Parliament has expressed disappointment over Speaker Alban Bagbin’s criticism of the President for not assenting to certain private member’s bills, deeming the exchange unfortunate.
In a letter to Parliament, the President clarified his refusal to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, citing potential financial implications on the state’s consolidated fund and a perceived violation of Article 108 of the constitution.
Speaker Bagbin, in response, asserted that the President was gravely mistaken and influenced by misguided advice from the Attorney General.
Addressing the issue in Parliament on Monday, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu acknowledged that disagreement between the Speaker and the President is legitimate. However, he criticized the Speaker’s choice of language, describing it as “visceral.”
“If the Speaker disagrees with him, it is legitimate, and he could have ended at that. I disagree with the opinion of the president. Then maybe I also come up with my understanding of the law. But we all saw and heard the rather visceral language of the speaker. I thought it was most unfortunate. The Speaker, after reading it, goes on his own frolic and attacks the president, and I felt it was most unfortunate.”
The verbal sparring between the Speaker and the President adds a layer of tension to the legislative process, with concerns raised about the decorum of such disagreements within the parliamentary setting. The Majority’s critique centers on the Speaker’s approach rather than the legitimate difference of opinions on the legislative matters at hand.
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