The Parliament of Ghana has strongly condemned a viral video circulating on social media that falsely suggests Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin had been summoned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to negotiate a settlement following his recent ruling regarding the Minority Leader’s call to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
In an official statement signed by Dr. Lawrence Kwarteng-Ashia, Deputy Director of Media Relations, Parliament unequivocally denied any truth to the insinuations made in the video, describing them as a deliberate and disingenuous attempt to mislead the public and malign the Speaker’s integrity.
“The video in question was taken on 4th July 2024, when the Rt. Hon. Speaker led a delegation to present the maiden democracy cup to the President. The attempt to wrongly label the video and twist facts to impugn the integrity of the Rt. Hon. Speaker and Parliament is not only disingenuous but unfortunate”.
Dr. Lawrence Kwarteng-Ashia Deputy Director, Media Relations For: Director, Media Relations
The controversy stems from the Speaker’s ruling in response to the Minority Leader’s request to declare the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant.
This ruling has sparked political tension, with opposition figures interpreting the Speaker’s position as a significant move in parliamentary governance.
Attempt to Undermine Speaker and Parliament
However, the viral video attempting to connect this ruling to a supposed “behind-the-scenes” negotiation with the President has been labelled by Parliament as a fabrication designed to undermine both the Speaker and the institution.
“Parliament states without any equivocation that there is no iota of truth in the insinuation in the circulated video.”
Dr. Lawrence Kwarteng-Ashia Deputy Director, Media Relations For: Director, Media Relations
The false video has been shared widely across social media platforms, fueling speculation and igniting debate among political commentators.
However, Parliament in its statement, urged the public to exercise caution and not to fall prey to the misleading narrative. It further advised that the allegations be treated with “the contempt it deserves.“
The statement is seen as an urgent move by Parliament to protect the Speaker’s reputation, especially given the sensitivity of the current political climate and the potential implications of any perceived behind-the-scenes negotiations involving the executive and legislative branches of government.
This attempt to malign the Speaker also raises broader concerns about the use of misinformation in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 general elections, as political actors and their supporters increasingly exploit digital platforms to spread falsehoods.
Parliament’s swift rebuttal highlights the growing challenge of tackling disinformation and protecting the integrity of Ghana’s democratic institutions.
The public has been urged to remain vigilant and refrain from spreading unverified information. Parliament concluded by reaffirming its commitment to transparency and upholding the rule of law, particularly as Ghana prepares for a heated election period.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in an earlier statement, called for all parties involved in the ongoing controversy following the speaker’s declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant to exercise restraint and act responsibly.
According to the Center, the current situation, unprecedented in Ghana’s constitutional practice, has the potential to escalate into constitutional and political turmoil if not handled with caution.
The Center also called on Parliament, the Speaker, and other stakeholders to respect the rule of law by complying fully with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
CDD-Ghana emphasized the importance of filing all required legal documents within the mandated timeline to ensure that the case proceeds swiftly, allowing the Court to provide clarity and resolution to this complex issue.
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