When Parliament Becomes a Theatre of Absurdity: Time for the Speaker’s Hammer to Fall

The Speaker’s apology to the Judiciary is a wake-up call to clean up Parliament, this time with real action, not mere words. Ghanaians deserve a Parliament of honour, not a stage for political hooliganism.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has apologised to the Judiciary over the misconduct of some MPs during the vetting of the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. His apology is welcome, but it exposes a much deeper problem that has festered for far too long: the failure of successive Speakers, including the current one, to discipline MPs who turn the House into a circus.

This isn’t the first time Parliament has been disgraced by its own members. We still remember the chaotic scenes during a ministerial vetting when some MPs disrupted proceedings and destroyed state property. The Speaker promised action. A committee was formed. Ghanaians were assured that those responsible would be punished and made to pay for the damage. Months later, silence. The report has vanished, and the issue, like many others, has been swept neatly under the carpet.

Our elders say, “If you forgive a murderer, you are simply encouraging murder.” That is exactly what Parliament has done, forgiving indiscipline, encouraging chaos, and breeding impunity. When misconduct goes unpunished, it grows bolder. And now, we have a House where shouting matches, insults, and physical confrontations have become normal.

Let’s be honest, what some MPs do in Parliament wouldn’t even be tolerated in a primary school classroom. Yet, these are the very people we call “Honourable.” The chamber of Parliament has become less of a house of law and more of a theatre of absurdity, where national issues are overshadowed by political brawls and childish tantrums.

So, when the Speaker promises to return “with a hammer, not a gavel,” we can only hope he means business this time. Ghana has heard enough threats. What the nation wants now is action — firm, decisive, and non-partisan. The hammer must fall on any MP who disrespects the dignity of Parliament, regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on.

But the Speaker alone can’t fix this. Constituents must also rise up and hold their representatives accountable. If your MP is more interested in chaos than in crafting laws, call them out. Parliament is a place for service, not showmanship. If an MP cannot attend sittings regularly or conduct themselves honourably, they should simply resign.

Thankfully, not all MPs have joined the madness. Some still carry themselves with the decency and discipline the nation deserves. I’m proud to say my own MP is one of them, a gentleman who respects the House and the people who sent him there.

The time for excuses is over. Parliament must reclaim its lost dignity. The Speaker’s hammer must finally fall, not as a symbol, but as a statement that indiscipline, impunity, and political hooliganism have no place in Ghana’s democracy.