Audio By Carbonatix
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Majority of abusing the lawmaking process, warning that the passage of 33 bills under certificates of urgency in a single year amounts to legislation by ambush.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Chief Whip Mohammed Habib Iddrisu said the development reflects a worrying pattern since the government took office, despite the promises it made to Ghanaians.
“In this sitting in 2026, the first sitting in 2026, and the fact that this government came into office on the back of a lot of promises, many unrealistic, many deceptive, many that actually cannot materialise, nothing has been done,” he said.
The Tolon MP described the Majority’s conduct in Parliament as hasty and dismissive of due process, arguing that its so-called supermajority has been rendered irrelevant by how it is being used.
According to him, the Minority called a press conference to alert the public to what transpired in 2025, when several bills were rushed through Parliament under certificates of urgency.
“Last year, in 2025, the majority rushed in a lot of bills, which are very problematic. They rush in bills under a certificate of urgency, and overnight, there are other laying papers, withdrawing them. There are others seeking amendment to bills that they have rushed overnight,” he said.
Habib Iddrisu said these actions have forced the Minority to prepare Ghanaians' minds for what he warned could be a continuation of the trend in 2026.
“This is an abuse of democratic process, an abuse of democratic process in the sense that yes, they have the supermajority,” he stated.
He acknowledged that parliamentary rules allow for certificates of urgency but insisted the process has been distorted by sheer numbers.
“When a bill is laid before Parliament, it is referred to a committee. The committee can determine the bill's urgency.
"When it comes to the floor, we can either accept or reject it. But they have more than two-thirds majority, so they will always use their numbers,” he said.
Mohammed Habib Iddrisu questioned the basis for treating most government bills as urgent, challenging the Majority to justify their approach.
“Can you mention one of the bills that they have passed that is of an urgent nature? To what extent? What is urgent about it?” he questioned.
Pressed on the scale of the practice, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip said the numbers were unprecedented.
“About 33. In one year. About 33 of their bills have all come under a certificate of urgency,” he said.
He disclosed that he has raised the matter repeatedly on the floor of Parliament, warning that the Majority is abusing both parliamentary procedure and the mandate given to it by the electorate.
“The majority is abusing the process under a certificate of urgency. The majority is abusing the numbers that the Ghanaian people have given them,” he added.
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