Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has vowed to take firm action to restore order and discipline in the House following the “chaotic” scenes that marred the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
“I will come back on this issue of decency, discipline, and decorum, and this time, I am coming with the hammer, not the gavel,” Mr Bagbin warned on Tuesday through a formal communication to Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Floor of Parliament.
On Monday, during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, tensions flared between the Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, and the Majority Leader, Mr Mahama Ayariga.
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The dispute erupted when Mr Ayariga challenged Mr Afenyo-Markin’s attempt to make his opening remarks, insisting that the matter had already been addressed on the floor of the House through a motion Mr Afenyo-Markin had filed.
The Speaker reminded the MPs that the Standing Orders of Parliament prohibited the use of offensive language or imputing improper motives, urging MPs to always maintain civility and respect during proceedings.
“The Standing Orders serve as a reminder that our proceedings must always reflect the dignity and integrity of Parliament as a key organ of state,” he stated.
Mr Bagbin reaffirmed Parliament’s respect for the judiciary as a coequal arm of government under Article 125(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which vested judicial power in the courts.
He stressed the need for mutual respect among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary in line with the doctrine of separation of powers.
GNA
