IS THIS A PARLIAMENT OR A PLAYGOUND?: QUESTIONING THE WEAKNESSES IN GHANA'S LEGISLATIVE HOUSE

 By: Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B.Ed.

There is something deeply troubling about Ghana’s Parliament today. As a citizen, I, Honeybrowne Okaakyire, find it hard to stay silent any longer. I watch the very people elected to represent us turn Parliament into a theatre of shame; punches flying, mics grabbed, chairs dragged, and tempers flaring.

Instead of protecting Ghana’s constitution, passing life-changing laws, and debating critical national policies, our Members of Parliament (MPs) now trend more for fights, walkouts, and political bickering than for meaningful legislation. But I ask: Is this the Parliament Ghana deserves? Is this the leadership our ancestors died for? Let us walk through some troubling questions and scenarios that expose the disturbing weaknesses of the Ghanaian Parliament, and why the House that should be the pillar of our democracy is shaking under the weight of pettiness, partisanship, and paralysis.

1. Why do MPs fight in Parliament instead of debating maturely? This question haunts every decent Ghanaian. In December 2021, during the debate on the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), chaos broke out in Parliament. Members of the two main political parties—NPP and NDC—shoved each other, and a full-blown fight erupted. One MP even attempted to snatch the Speaker’s chair! Yes, our “Honourables” physically fought over a tax bill while citizens watched in horror. What message does this send to the youth? That brawling is now a parliamentary tool? That reason can be replaced with violence? That laws are passed with fists? What happened to dialogue, compromise, or constructive opposition? If our leaders can’t even sit down to talk, what hope does Ghana have?

2. Why do MPs walk out of Parliament like schoolchildren leaving class? Another major weakness of the Ghanaian Parliament is the alarming frequency of walkouts. When things don’t go the way of one party, they simply stage a walkout. They leave their seats, boycott proceedings, and sometimes refuse to return. It’s become a lazy protest mechanism, a new norm in our legislative culture. In November 2020, during the approval of the 2021 budget, NDC MPs staged a walkout, claiming the process was unfair. In other instances, NPP MPs too have walked out to protest against minority stances in July 2025. But here’s my concern: Who are you walking out on? The government or the people of Ghana who pay your salaries? We elect you to stay and fix problems, not flee from them. You can’t walk out of responsibility and still call yourself a leader.

3. Are MPs loyal to Ghana or their political parties? This is one of the most heartbreaking truths about Ghana’s Parliament: Partisan loyalty is stronger than national loyalty. MPs vote along party lines, not based on what’s good for Ghanaians. They don’t care whether a bill is harmful or helpful; they care about whether it’s coming from their party or the opposition. In many instances, you see MPs defend clearly bad policies just because they come from their own party. In 2022, when the E-Levy was introduced, several NPP MPs who privately admitted the tax was harsh still supported it in Parliament just to remain in “good standing” with their party. So, I ask again: Do our MPs represent the people or their party headquarters? Are they legislators or loyalists?

4. Why are so many MPs silent in Parliament? This is a question I ask every election year: Why do Ghanaians vote for MPs who will go and sit in Parliament like spectators? Many MPs spend four years in Parliament without ever making a significant contribution to a debate. They don’t present private member bills. They don’t challenge policies. They don’t engage in national issues. They just show up, sign attendance, and go home. Take a look at the Hansard, the official parliamentary record. You’ll see that less than half of MPs contribute regularly to debates. So why are they there? Are they representing their constituents; or simply occupying space?

5. What laws are our MPs passing and or for whom? When was the last time Parliament passed a law that genuinely improved the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. Ask yourself: Has Parliament passed laws to protect small-scale farmers? Have they created frameworks for tech startups to thrive? Have they passed laws to make education more practical and job-ready? Still theoretical, yet they're shamefully doing the practicals in education for us in Parliament. Instead, we see rushed approval of excessive loans, shady tax exemptions for multinationals, and inflated contracts that benefit the elite. In 2023 alone, Parliament approved over $2 billion in loan agreements, yet basic hospitals, schools, and roads remain underdeveloped. Who are these laws serving? Surely not the people in the villages waiting for clean water and toilet facilities. Where did we go wrong as noble and innocent citizens of mother Ghana? Are we still living in Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's country or we're living in a very discrepant country? It's just sad. 

6. Is the Speaker of Parliament truly neutral? In theory, the Speaker should be the neutral voice that ensures fair play. In practice, it’s a different story. Take Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, a veteran of Ghana’s Parliament and current Speaker. Though competent, he was elected through a controversial vote that split the House. His rulings have often been accused of tilting toward one side of the political divide. To say, he tries to draw political differences in Parliament. This isn’t unique to him. Previous Speakers, including Prof. Mike Ocquaye, also faced similar allegations. When the Speaker becomes political, the entire Parliament becomes polarized. Instead of being an impartial referee, the Speaker risks becoming a partisan cheerleader. Can a deeply divided Parliament truly function?

7. Why are MPs so disconnected from their constituencies? MPs only appear in their constituencies during elections. Once elected, they return to Accra and vanish like annoyed ghosts. They don’t hold town hall meetings. They don’t engage their constituents on national issues. Many communities don’t even know what their MPs are doing in Parliament. I once asked a farmer in Atebubu who his MP was, and he replied, “I only see him on posters, not in person.”This disconnect weakens democracy. An MP who doesn’t know the real issues of their people cannot represent them well. This means, they only represent their family members in Parliament. Hence, favoritisms and nepotisms. Nepotism and favoritism in Ghana’s Parliament involve appointing or promoting individuals based on family ties or political loyalty rather than merit. This practice undermines fairness, weakens institutional integrity, and limits opportunities for competent individuals to contribute effectively to national development.

8. Why don’t MPs push for electoral reforms? Ghana’s elections are plagued by monetization, vote-buying, and political intimidation. Yet, Parliament has done very little to reform the Electoral Commission Act, campaign financing laws, or systems that promote transparency. Why? Because many MPs benefit from the broken system. Reforming the system might mean losing their seats. So they keep quiet, leaving Ghana with the same flawed elections, cycle after cycle, years after years. 

9.. How independent is Parliament from the Executive? Though Ghana practices a constitutional democracy, our Parliament acts like a rubber stamp of the Executive. MPs from the ruling party often become Ministers, and that’s where the problem begins. How can the Legislature properly check the Executive when both arms are fused? How can the Legislature properly check the Executive when the Legislature’s power is weakened by executive dominance? Instead of acting independently, it often aligns with the ruling government, limiting its ability to hold the Executive accountable. This undermines the system of checks and balances in governance. This is why when a government proposes a budget with bloated allocations or outrageous spending, Parliament just approves it without strong opposition. In 2022, the government presented a budget with massive allocations for a National Cathedral amidst economic hardship. While the public protested, Parliament approved it. Awww, is this the democratic government and systems we're practicing as a country? Was that in the interest of the people or the President? Maybe, they forget the meaning of a democratic government when they're voted into office. Ah well!

10. What legacy is this Parliament leaving behind? Years from now, when history is written, what will be said about this era of Ghana’s Parliament? Will it be known for nation-building or for name-calling? Will it be remembered for innovation or intimidation? For fighting corruption or fueling it? So far, the legacy is not promising worth not living. And as a concerned citizen, I, Honeybrowne, cannot sit idle while our Parliament slides deeper into dysfunction. It must be voiced out. 

What Can Be Done? There is still hope if only we act. Here are a few ideas:

a. Elect quality MPs. We must stop voting based on party colors or rice and T-shirts. Let’s elect people with integrity, intelligence, and independence.

b. Enforce stricter parliamentary conduct. Fights and walkouts must be punished. There should be real consequences for misconduct.

c. Reform the electoral system. Let’s reduce monetization and make it easier for honest citizens to contest and win.

d. Strengthen civic education. Let the Ghanaian public understand that MPs are servants, not kings. We must hold them accountable.

e. Demand constituency reports. Every MP must be mandated to report back to their people quarterly. No more ghosts in Parliament.

Final Thoughts

Ghana’s Parliament should be a symbol of wisdom, justice, and responsibility. Today, it’s becoming a joke. But we, the people, must demand better.

I dream of a Parliament where:

Debates are brilliant, not bloody

Walkouts are replaced with wisdom

Loyalty is to Ghana, not party chairs

Laws serve the poor, not just the powerful

And MPs are feared for their intellect, not their insults.

The time to fix this is now. Let the next Parliament be one that Ghana can be proud of; not one we tune in to for fights and fiascos.

And I leave you with these questions:

Will you vote again for the same silent MP?

Will you keep applauding political violence?

Will you watch Parliament destroy itself or demand it reforms?

The future of Ghana’s democracy depends on what we choose today.

Blog Authored by:

Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B.Ed.

A believer in truth, democracy, and development