‘Strong criticism is legitimate but insult is not argument’ – Speaker urges restraint in public discourse

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on Members of Parliament and the public to distinguish between legitimate political criticism and personal insults, stressing that accountability must not be undermined by abusive language. He said strong disagreement was an essential part of democracy but should be expressed in ways that respected the dignity of others. “Please, robust disagreement is legitimate.

Holding government, the opposition, the Speaker, leadership and every institution of state to account is legitimate,” he said. And the deliberate use of language calculated to demean persons or institutions adds nothing to the quality of our democracy.” Speaker Bagbin made the remarks while addressing an emergency sitting of Parliament on Tuesday, September 29, amid growing concerns about the use of insults in public life. He said political disagreements should not prevent citizens from recognising one another’s humanity and equal rights, adding that Ghana’s democratic stability depended not only on its constitutional institutions but also on discipline, decency and responsible public engagement.

The Speaker said Parliament had a responsibility to promote respectful public discourse, particularly because the conduct and language of lawmakers often influence national conversations. “The words spoken in the chamber travel far beyond these walls. The proceedings of committees are reported throughout the country and worldwide.

Our press conferences, interviews, public meetings and social media engagements help to set the tone of national discourse,” he said. He noted that MPs were not merely participants in public discussions but also helped shape the standards of communication in the country because of the positions they occupied. Speaker Bagbin, however, expressed concern that some MPs had used language that fell below the standards expected of elected representatives, both inside and outside the chamber.

“I must say with regret that some of the language employed by members, both within and outside this chamber, has on occasion fallen below the standards that the Parliament is entitled to expect from the elected representatives,” he said. He called on MPs to lead by example, arguing that Parliament could not demand responsible communication from journalists, broadca… The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has urged leaders of Ghana’s two major political parties to stop rewarding members whose public contributions are characterised by insults and abusive language.

He warned that recognising individuals for inflammatory remarks could encourage others to adopt similar behaviour in an attempt to gain attention and recognition within their political parties. “I add this to both political parties’ leaders. That is what I have observed up to date,” he said.