Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to exhibit better behavior if they seek respect from the public.
Addressing concerns about the treatment of MPs by some sections of the public, Bagbin highlighted the poor perception of MPs, noting that many view their conduct unfavorably.
“The feedback I have from the public is that ‘MPs behave like kindergarten kids on the floor’,” Bagbin stated. He added that MPs have reported disrespectful encounters with security personnel and officials, who dismissively respond with “and so what?” when told someone is an MP.
Bagbin suggested that this attitude stems from how MPs conduct themselves, contrasting it with how officials would never speak to a judge or minister.
“We need to look at it first,” he urged.
He emphasized the need for parliamentarians to behave as state leaders and not take their duties lightly.
This comes against a backdrop of several scuffles and confrontations in the 8th Parliament of Ghana, particularly between members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Notable incidents include physical altercations during the Speaker’s election and heated debates over the 2022 budget approval, raising concerns about parliamentary decorum and the legislature’s effectiveness in Ghana.
