New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned the government against using its parliamentary majority as a justification for passing every piece of legislation brought before Parliament.
According to the former Vice President, the government’s commanding majority in Parliament should come with a greater responsibility to exercise restraint and ensure that laws passed serve the broader interests of Ghanaians.
His comments come amid growing debate over the passage of the Tribunals Bill, which has attracted criticism from opposition figures and some civil society groups.
Addressing the nation on Sunday, July 19, Dr Bawumia said the size of the government’s majority meant Parliament had the capacity to pass almost any bill, but that numerical strength should not be mistaken for an obligation to approve every proposed law.
“Mr President, your government commands one of the largest majorities in the history of the Fourth Republic. With such numbers, Parliament can pass almost any bill it wishes. Not everything that can be passed should be passed,” he said.
Dr Bawumia argued that the true measure of a parliamentary majority should be the quality, fairness and impact of the laws it enacts, rather than the ease with which legislation secures approval.
“History will not ask how many votes a law received. It will ask whether the law is just, equitable, and seeks to promote and protect the interests of Ghanaians,” he added.
The NPP flagbearer also questioned the need to create a separate justice structure to address challenges within Ghana’s judicial system.
He said problems such as court congestion and delays in the administration of justice could be better addressed by strengthening the existing system through the appointment of more judges, the construction of additional courtrooms and the digitisation of judicial processes.
Dr Bawumia maintained that such investments would offer a more sustainable approach to improving access to justice than establishing parallel judicial structures.
