Speaker Alban Bagbin (right) receiving the draft bill from Nana Ato Dadzie with Prof Ahwoi (middle)
A Governance Professor at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Kwamena Ahwoi, has called for the Electoral Commission (EC) to be made responsible for the election of the Speaker.
Speaking at the presentation of a draft Parliamentary Transition Bill to Speaker Alban Bagbin in Parliament, he said the bill also proposes that the election of the Speaker should be done by an electoral college of elected MPs.
According to Prof. Ahwoi, who is also a stalwart of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), such a move would help avoid the rancorous behaviour that characterised the last election of the Speaker.
He argued that the election of the Speaker, which is hitherto done by all elected Members of Parliament (MPs) who have not been sworn into office, is problematic and could raise legal issues.
He asserted that the draft bill had made various recommendations to help the legislature to address some of the unnecessary complications and complexities in the future.
Per the current arrangement, the Speaker is elected and sworn before he or she swears in elected MPs on the same day.
Prof. Ahwoi said this arrangement should give away to a new one, explaining that the Speaker must be made to supervise the elections of the Deputy Speakers and the swearing-in of newly elected MPs at least two days before the Speaker swears in the President-elect, in consonance with the Presidential Transition Act.
Prof. Ahwoi’s Centre for Democratic Transitions (CDT) undertook the drafting of the bill which focuses on the peculiarities of the legislature in periods of changeover.
The Parliamentary Service Board commissioned the drafting of the Parliamentary Transition Bill to ensure a smooth, seamless and peaceful transition for the legislature.
Speaker Bagbin said there had been certain expectations of the Speaker or the Clerk to Parliament, when in truth that mandate does not exist.
According to him, the draft bill takes a retrospective look at what has happened in the past, considers today’s hung parliament, anticipates what could happen in the future, and provides direction and guidance.
He commended Prof. Ahwoi and his team for their deep thoughts that went into the proposals and recommendations.
Mr. Bagbin said he looked forward to sharing the proposals and recommendations with the Parliamentary Service Board members to help chart a new path that will sustain parliamentary democracy in Ghana.
By Ernest Kofi Adu