Outgoing Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed strong reservations about President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s decision to nominate Alban Bagbin as Speaker for the Ninth Parliament. Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb on January 5, 2025, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described the move as unconstitutional and a potential overreach of executive authority.
According to him, the Constitution mandates that the selection of a Speaker be the sole responsibility of Members of Parliament (MPs) and not influenced by the presidency or political parties. The Constitution provides that the Speaker is elected by MPs from among themselves or individuals qualified to be MPs. It does not grant the executive the right to dictate this choice, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
The former Majority Leader of the Eighth Parliament emphasized that parliamentary leadership decisions should reflect collaboration between both sides of the House. He argued that Mahama’s directive to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus to support Bagbin undermines this principle. Parliament is a representative body, and the nomination of a Speaker should not rest with one party or the president, he added.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clarified that while the presidency may express preferences or informal opinions, formal directives on parliamentary matters violate the separation of powers. He cautioned against setting a precedent where the executive branch interferes in legislative functions.
His remarks follow a statement issued by the NDC on January 5, 2025, confirming Mahama’s nomination of Bagbin. The statement indicated that the decision was reached after consultations between the party’s leadership and parliamentary caucus.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu concluded by urging the presidency to allow Parliament to independently determine its leadership to preserve democratic principles. The president should refrain from formally directing MPs on such matters. Any involvement should remain informal and advisory, he asserted.
This criticism highlights ongoing debates over the role of the executive in parliamentary affairs, particularly as Ghana transitions to a new parliamentary session.
This is as reported by GhanaWeb.com