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Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has launched a sharp attack on Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, accusing him of repeatedly allowing what he describes as a dangerous “urgency culture” that enables the Majority to rush legislation through Parliament with limited scrutiny.
Speaking at a media engagement where the Minority reviewed governance issues and Parliament’s role in national oversight, Afenyo-Markin argued that the Speaker’s handling of urgency procedures has, on several occasions, favoured convenience over caution.
Urgency Becoming the Norm, Not the Exception
According to him, although certificates of urgency exist to address truly exceptional situations, they are increasingly being used by the Majority as a shortcut to fast-track bills.
He warned that this trend compresses time for debate, restricts consultation, and weakens Parliament’s responsibility to thoroughly examine policies before they become law.
“Parliament cannot be reduced to a clearing house where critical bills are hurried through simply because the Majority says so,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
He insisted that the Speaker must act as a neutral custodian of parliamentary procedure, not an enabler of rushed lawmaking.
Weak Scrutiny Has Real Consequences
The Minority Leader stressed that poor legislative scrutiny often results in bad laws and poorly designed policies, which later require costly amendments, withdrawals, or corrections.
“These failures are not abstract. They eventually hurt citizens and drain public resources,” he warned.
He further urged the Speaker to resist what he termed “pressure politics”, where the Majority pushes for speed without adequate committee review, stakeholder engagement, or a clear justification for urgency.
Minority Promises Tougher Oversight
Afenyo-Markin made it clear that the Minority is not opposed to urgency when it is genuinely justified, but argued that it becomes problematic when used routinely rather than sparingly.
He also signalled a more aggressive oversight approach in the weeks ahead, pledging that the Minority will intensify scrutiny of government business and challenge any attempts to “railroad” Parliament into approving unclear or poorly examined legislation.
“We will not sit quietly while Parliament’s credibility is compromised,” he declared.
According to him, the Minority will demand stronger committee processes, hold ministers to higher standards of accountability, and use parliamentary tools to slow down bills that require deeper examination.
Speed Must Not Replace Substance
Afenyo-Markin concluded by warning that Ghana’s democracy is strengthened not by how quickly laws are passed, but by how thoroughly they are examined.
When speed replaces scrutiny, he cautioned, Parliament risks losing public trust and becoming “a stage for numbers rather than a forum for substance.”
