Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has apologised to members of the Judiciary for what he described as discourteous comments made during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Bagbin said his attention had been drawn to the conduct of some Members during the vetting session, which he admitted appeared disrespectful to the judges present.
“Such conduct, though not representative of the collective will of Parliament, is regrettable and inconsistent with the decorum expected of Members,” he said.
The Speaker reminded MPs that the Standing Orders require them to maintain order and decorum during both plenary and committee sittings.
He stressed that parliamentary proceedings must reflect the dignity and integrity of the House as one of the three arms of government.
Mr Bagbin underscored the importance of respecting the separation of powers, describing it as a constitutional command rather than a suggestion. He noted that Parliament must always act with respect toward the Judiciary, whose independence is guaranteed under Article 125 of the 1992 Constitution.
He directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee to ensure that future hearings are conducted with civility, objectivity and institutional respect. “I will return to address the issue of decency, discipline and decorum with a hammer, not a gavel,” the Speaker said.
His apology follows a heated exchange during Monday’s vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, when tensions flared between the Majority and Minority leaders.
The disagreement led to the Minority side, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, walking out of the committee proceedings in protest over the nominee’s handling of pending court cases.
