Bagbin defends decision against investigating 7 January “military entry” of Parliament

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has mounted a strong defence for his decision not to initiate a probe into the “military entry” of Parliament that occurred on 7 January 2021.

Speaking candidly about the event, Bagbin expressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest and impartiality in handling the matter.

The invasion took place during a tense parliamentary session following the general elections. Armed military personnel entered the parliamentary chamber in an unprecedented move, ostensibly to restore order amid escalating tensions between Members of Parliament.

The scenes, widely criticised by various political factions and civil society organizations, raised serious questions about the military’s involvement in parliamentary proceedings and the potential implications for Ghana’s democratic governance.

Reflecting on the incident, Speaker Bagbin questioned why the responsibility should fall on Parliament, particularly given his central role in the conflict.

“I felt that there would be some conflict of interest if I am the one seen championing the investigations of that matter, and that was my position,” Bagbin explained. He further elaborated that his deputies shared similar reservations. “If we are the people to preside over this, do you think that we are going to be that impartial in handling the matter? I had my doubts.”

“There was pressure on me to cause investigations, and I said, well if this has flouted any law, what prevented Ghanaians from taking the matter up to the investigative bodies to investigate and prosecute the people who were involved? Why should it be Parliament, and why should it be the Speaker who was the centre of the conflict presiding over it for the investigations?”

Speaker Bagbin, as part of his three-day official tour of the Ashanti Region, marked the 30 years of the Fourth Republican Constitution.

At a forum held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he advised Ghanaians to uphold the country’s democratic values ahead of the 2024 polls.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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