Former Deputy Minister and Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr Tony Aidoo, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as the growing culture of disorder in Ghana’s Parliament, warning that recent conduct by lawmakers signals a troubling decline in democratic maturity.
Reacting to the chaotic scenes that unfolded in the chamber on Tuesday, December 9, Dr Aidoo said Ghana’s legislature is “increasingly… exhibiting conduct that is not acceptable.”
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, December 10, he criticised the behaviour of Members of Parliament—particularly those in the Minority Caucus—following their decision to abandon their seats, mass up in the centre aisle, and engage in physical confrontations that forced an abrupt suspension of proceedings.
“Yesterday, what happened in Parliament was not palatable at all,” he said, lamenting the escalation of disorder. According to him, even though heckling is part of parliamentary life, “there is a limit to that heckling, and yesterday they went beyond that.”
Dr Aidoo argued that the conduct exhibited was not legitimate resistance but deliberate obstruction. “It was a total attempt at filibustering, and that is not good for people who have been voted into Parliament to exhibit democratic conduct,” he stated.
He further chastised the MPs involved for preventing the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, from speaking, describing it as a breach of parliamentary norms and disrespect to the Speaker. “To the extent that the Minority didn’t want the Majority Leader to speak they breached democratic conduct, and they didn’t show any respect to the Speaker,” he said.
He added: “Under their own standing orders, when the Speaker begins to speak, you have to sit down and listen. Not only did they refuse to sit down, but they also wouldn’t listen.”
The former diplomat also noted that the Majority Leader’s remarks were delivered in what he described as a “chaotic atmosphere,” and praised Parliament’s Hansard team for managing to document the proceedings under difficult conditions, saying they “deserve commendation.”
Looking beyond the single incident, Dr Aidoo delivered a broader critique of Ghana’s democratic journey since 1992. “Since 1992, I feel very sorry that this democracy has not endured to the benefit of the ordinary people,” he said. “All that it has done is to create a minority class of parasites — people sitting on the necks of the citizens, voted into power not to attend to national interest but party interest.”
He reminded MPs that their mandate is to serve the people: “You are there to serve national interest, not your party or individual or class interest.”
Dr Aidoo stressed that the loss of decorum cuts across both sides of the House. “On both sides of the political divide, we have seen conduct that has become too unbecoming. Parliament is not a marketplace for you to go and filibuster in a manner that is not honourable.”
In a blistering assessment of the MPs involved in Tuesday’s disruption, he said they had forfeited their right to be called “Honourable.” “All the people who took part should be stripped of their honourable titles. They are not honourable, they are dishonourable people.”
According to Dr Aidoo, the Speaker would have been justified in removing the disruptive lawmakers from the chamber. “The Speaker would have been right if he walked them out, and he should have walked them out.”
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