Citizens may revolt against the extremely partisan Parliament that has failed to deliver – Bagbin warns
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has raised an urgent alarm about the potential for public unrest stemming from the extreme partisanship within the legislature.
He voiced his concern that the current political climate, where factions prioritize their agenda over the needs of citizens, could lead to widespread dissatisfaction.
Speaking at the University of Ghana (UG) Alumni Lecture on the theme “30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy: The Journey Thus Far,” Bagbin highlighted the erosion of public trust in Parliament due to its failure to effectively tackle pressing national issues.
He referenced recent examples from Kenya, Burkina Faso, and other African nations, urging Ghana to learn from these situations to prevent similar unrest.
Speaker Bagbin pointed out that citizens are increasingly frustrated with lawmakers who do not unite for the common good.
He argued that the focus on party loyalty has overshadowed the essential duty of serving the public interest.
This partisanship, he noted, not only impedes legislative progress but also deepens the perception that Parliament is disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.
He cautioned that if this trend continues, it could incite a revolt against elected officials who prioritize political gains over genuine governance.
The Speaker called for a renewed commitment to collaborative politics, urging Members of Parliament to work together to restore faith in the democratic process.
“Given the low trust levels and given that many believe democracy has not delivered, our democracy and parliament in particular, is faced with the challenge of relevance and the need to prove to citizens that we can deliver on our mandate, particularly of holding the executive to account and ensuring that corruption and waste are at the barest minimum in all our countries.”
“Recently in Kenya, citizens went after their MPs and set a part of Parliament ablaze. They said MPs are irrelevant and a part of, instead of being a solution to their daily problems. This was ten clear years after a similar occurrence in Burkina Faso, where the parliament was set ablaze by dissatisfied citizens. This tells us how important the question of relevance is. If we do not prove our worth to the people we represent and lead, the writings are clearly on the wall!”
source: myjoyonline
