By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has apologised to the Judiciary on behalf of Parliament for the heated exchanges that occurred during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
Addressing the House on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Mr. Bagbin said his attention was drawn to some comments and conduct by a few Members of Parliament during the proceedings of the Appointments Committee, which appeared disrespectful to the distinguished members of the Judiciary who were present.
He described the incident as unfortunate and inconsistent with the decorum and discipline expected of lawmakers under Parliament’s Standing Orders.
“The conduct does not represent the collective will of Parliament. It is regrettable and falls short of the standards we uphold as honourable members,” the Speaker stated.
Mr. Bagbin reaffirmed Parliament’s unwavering respect for the Judiciary as an equal arm of government, emphasizing the need to maintain mutual respect among the three branches of government: the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, in line with the 1992 Constitution.
He further directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee to ensure that future vetting sessions are conducted with the highest level of civility, objectivity, and institutional respect.
“Going forward, I will insist on decency, discipline, and decorum in our proceedings and this time, I’m coming with the hammer,” he cautioned.
The Speaker also assured the Judiciary of Parliament’s continued cooperation and commitment to strengthening the relationship between the two institutions in the interest of Ghana’s democracy.
