The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has formally apologised to the Judiciary for the heated exchanges that marred the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the previous day.
In a rare move to defuse institutional tension, Mr. Bagbin expressed deep regret and issued a stern caution to legislators today (Tuesday, November 11), warning he would use “the hammer, not the gavel,” to enforce discipline in future proceedings.
Addressing the House, the Speaker immediately sought to mend relations between the Legislature and the Judiciary, two coequal arms of government established under the 1992 Constitution.
Mr. Bagbin stressed that the integrity of the constitutional framework is dependent on the mutual respect between the organs of state, a concept rooted in the doctrine of separation of powers.
“I wish to reaffirm Parliament’s unwavering respect for the Judiciary as a coequal arm of governance under Article 125(1) of the 1992 Constitution,” he said.
He emphasized that the Judiciary must remain independent and “must not be subjected to control or direction from any person or authority,” indirectly referencing the need for restraint during the political scrutiny inherent in the vetting process.
The apology was framed around the violation of Parliament’s own procedural rules, the Standing Orders, which govern the conduct of MPs during debates and committee sittings.
“Parliamentary rules caution members against imputing improper motives or using words that are disrespectful or likely to cause offence. 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.
The Speaker confirmed that the vetting incident involved decorum breaches and immediately took administrative steps to prevent recurrence.
To ensure accountability, Mr. Bagbin disclosed that he has formally directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee—the body responsible for conducting the vetting—to take decisive note of the misconduct.
The directive mandates that: “in all future proceedings, the highest standards of civility, objectivity, and institutional respect are maintained.”
Concluding his remarks with a definitive warning, the Speaker promised stricter enforcement of procedural decorum in the future:
“I will come back on this issue of decency, discipline, and decorum—and this time, I am coming with the hammer, not the gavel,” he declared.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the country, as the Legislature is expected to maintain stability and cooperation with the Judiciary, particularly during high-profile political processes. The Speaker affirmed that Parliament “cherishes its longstanding cooperation and mutual regard with the Judiciary” and remains committed to strengthening that essential relationship.
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