Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), says recent developments in Parliament suggest the House lacks clear rules guiding legislators’ conduct.
According to him, although the rules might exist, members have deliberately chosen not to respect them.
His comments follow a confrontation between the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincint Ekow Assafuah, and the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who was presiding over proceedings of the House on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Commenting on the confrontation on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Wednesday, February 25, Dr. Draman said his observation in the House –from commentaries by both Majority and Minority leaders before the Old Tafo MP’s turn –led him to note that the House seems lost on the guidelines that govern their conduct in the chamber.
“It looks like up to now, we don’t seem to have a clear agreement on the rules that should govern the conduct of Honourable members in the House. Or maybe there is a clear understanding of the rules but people are not following the rules,” he stated.
Dr. Draman further shared that the rancour might have stemmed from the Minority’s perception that the First Deputy Speaker is biased against them.
“Perhaps, there is already the perception that the First Deputy Speaker from many events that have unfolded in this 9th Parliament, there might be the perception that he’s not fair to the NPP side. That’s my reading of the perception from the NPP side,” he pointed out.
Background
Tensions rose in Ghana’s Parliament on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, when the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, clashed with the First Deputy Speaker and MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor, during proceedings.
The heated exchange began after Assafuah attempted to ask supplementary questions to a minister but was repeatedly blocked by Ahiafor, who was presiding as Speaker.
Assafuah accused the Deputy Speaker of being unfair and disrespectful, sparking a verbal
confrontation that disrupted the session.
“Mr Speaker, you are trying to get evasive with these questions. I mean, Ghanaians are watching. This is not fair” Assafuah protested.
“You are seeing how unfair you are. And if you disrespect us, we are likely to disrespect you well. We are Members of Parliament. We have every right to speak. Why can’t you speak? We will disrespect you if you disrespect us.”
Ahiafor, visibly angered by the accusation, ordered Assafuah to resume his seat, warning that his conduct was becoming disorderly. At one point, the Deputy Speaker threatened to call in parliamentary marshals to walk Assafuah out if he continued to defy instructions.
“Your conduct is becoming disorderly; I can ask the marshalls to walk you out.”
The confrontation stemmed from Assafuah’s insistence on asking three supplementary questions based on the Minister’s earlier responses.
However, Ahiafor ruled that the questions were not admissible, particularly when Assafuah attempted to reference a Facebook post as evidence.
Despite retracting his statement that the Speaker was “unfair”, Assafuah continued to press his point, leading to a prolonged back-and-forth.
“We will disrespect you if you disrespect us. You cannot disrespect this side of the House,” he stated.
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