Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned the parliamentary Majority that having numerical advantage in the House does not give them unlimited authority to approve every piece of legislation without adequate scrutiny.
Dr Bawumia argued that parliamentary majorities must still respect democratic principles, constitutional processes, and the need for broad consultation before passing laws that have significant implications for the country.
His comments come amid controversy surrounding the passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, which received approval from Parliament despite strong objections from the Minority and other stakeholders. The Minority had raised concerns about aspects of the bill and the speed at which it was considered.
According to Dr Bawumia, the role of Parliament goes beyond voting along party lines, stressing that lawmakers have a responsibility to carefully examine legislation and consider its wider impact on citizens.
He maintained that a majority in Parliament should be viewed as a responsibility to serve the public interest rather than a tool to fast-track every government proposal.
The former Vice President also urged the government to encourage more engagement and dialogue on major national issues to strengthen confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions.
The debate follows renewed discussions about parliamentary procedures, particularly concerns over the use of accelerated processes in passing bills and the need for proper legislative scrutiny.
