Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has firmly dismissed suggestions by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin that his current confrontational approach in the House mirrors Bagbin’s own style during his days as Minority Leader.
Addressing MPs after days of heightened tension, Speaker Bagbin delivered a detailed clarification on the floor, urging lawmakers and the public to consult the official parliamentary record rather than rely on repeated claims.
He described the frequent references to his legacy as inaccurate and unfair, especially coming from people he believes know better.
“You’ve been told often, and sometimes I expect some of you who experienced it to respond, but you don’t. And you know, silence means consent. What the Minority Leader is doing now is not what I did. He has copiously referred to you people that he took inspiration from my record. Please go and read my record.”
Bagbin stressed that his leadership in Parliament was characterised by restraint, strategy, and a deep awareness of the national mood.
“I never on the floor raised my voice. I never on the floor tried to show grandeur. No. I studied the ecology, the political environment. I tested the pulse of the people, and you play along that. I didn’t do what you are doing. Please, everybody can go and read.”
To underscore his point, the Speaker recounted what he described as the only occasion in his long parliamentary career when he openly challenged a sitting Speaker, the late Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey.
Bagbin recalled how Speaker Adjetey read a statement on the floor that personally attacked him, prompting him to seek the right of reply. According to him, his attempt to respond was blocked, even after then Majority Leader Papa Owusu-Ankomah cited Standing Orders to insist that Bagbin be allowed to speak since he had been mentioned by name.
“Only one occasion when the Right Honourable Peter Adjetey came and read a statement attacking me personally, that I rose up to say my side of the story. And he would not allow me to do so… and ordered me to sit down.”
Frustrated, Bagbin said he left the Chamber for his office.
“That day I took my books and stormed to my office. My colleagues did not follow me. They continued with the work of Parliament. It was in my office that the then few cameras, led by GTV, questioned why I moved out. And I gave them my side of the story.”
The incident made national headlines and later led to a private conversation between him and Speaker Adjetey. Bagbin recalled warning that if that style of leadership continued, he would “go after” the Speaker, a remark that generated significant public debate. He added that Speaker Adjetey later pleaded with him to soften his response, and the entire episode is captured in the official Hansard.
He lamented that this single episode has been repeatedly misrepresented over the years and used to draw false parallels with current parliamentary events.
“I’m saying this because this has been referred to many times by many people, that I behaved the same way when I was Minority Leader. If I did, we could have turned things around within two years and we almost won the 2004 elections. And these young MPs, the Minister for Education and his team joined us in 2005. Please, the opportunity is now. And that is why I am saying this.”
Speaker Bagbin urged MPs to ground their conduct in parliamentary rules, learn from historical precedent, and seize what he described as a critical moment for effective parliamentary leadership.
