The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has cautioned both members and staff of Parliament that ignoring parliamentary procedure undermined the authority of Parliament.
That, he said, weakened the very foundation of democracy.
He explained that parliamentary rules and processes formed the invisible structure that gave order to freedom and meaning to representation which turned the institution into a temple of order, peace, dignity, might, and majesty.
“But when it is ignored or undermined, disorder, chaos, and confusion set in, debates lose coherence, persuasion, reasoning, decisions lose legitimacy, and the authority of Parliament, the very cornerstone of democracy, is weakened. Parliament becomes a nuisance and irrelevance,” he said.
Procedure week
Mr Bagbin was speaking at the launch of the inaugural Practice and Procedure Week of the Legislative Management Services (LMS) of Parliament.
The week-long celebration is on the theme; “Strengthening Ghana’s Parliamentary Democracy: The Role of Practice and Procedure.”
It seeks to deepen understanding of legislative processes, promote transparency, and reinforce professionalism within the Parliamentary Service.
The celebration will also open Parliament’s workings to the public through interactive sessions and simulations.
Safeguarding fairness
Mr Bagbin stated that sound parliamentary practice and procedure were the bedrock of credible democratic governance, as they safeguarded fairness, accountability and respect for institutional order.
He said through procedure, Parliament ensured that while the majority’s voice prevailed, the rights of the minority were preserved, and decisions were reached through lawful and legitimate means.
He further reminded parliamentary staff that discipline and adherence to due process were essential to sustaining public trust, describing procedure as “the compass that directs debates, the guardrail that protects rights, and the bridge that connects order with justice.”
Rules
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central and Majority Leader , Mahama Ayariga likened parliamentary practice to the rules of football, stressing that both required structure and regulation to prevent chaos.
He said without clear procedures, Parliament would descend into disorder, as members might manipulate processes for partisan advantage.
Just as referees enforced fairness on the field, he noted, the Speaker ensured discipline, balance, and transparency in parliamentary deliberations.
Equaliser
The Second Deputy Minority Whip, and MP for Weija-Gbawe Jerry Ahmed Shaib, described parliamentary procedure as the greatest equaliser, protecting all sides and ensuring fairness in debate.
He urged both members and staff to cultivate a culture of professionalism and respect for rules, beyond mere knowledge of them, adding that procedure “does not belong to any one side of the House” but to Parliament as an institution.
The Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror described procedure as the heartbeat of legislative governance, ensuring fairness, transparency, and due process.
He said the Practice and Procedure Week reflected Parliament’s commitment to professionalism, institutional learning, and reform amid evolving democratic demands.
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