Governance expert and Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rasheed Draman, has raised red flags over Ghana’s democratic future following the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s consolidation of a super-majority in Parliament.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra, Dr. Draman warned that unchecked political dominance by any one party—particularly in Parliament—can threaten democratic safeguards, weaken oversight, and sideline diverse perspectives.
“With 184 seats, the NDC now holds two-thirds of the 276-member House. That’s enough to amend the Constitution, pass laws without bipartisan input, and push policies with little resistance,” he cautioned.
The ruling party’s increased numbers follow a recent by-election victory in Ablekuma North, giving it unprecedented leverage in the legislative chamber. According to Dr. Draman, this development, while politically favourable for the NDC, poses serious risks of what he described as “constitutional overreach.”
“Ghana’s democracy is not on autopilot. It requires constant checks, and when one side has enough seats to bypass those checks, our democracy becomes fragile,” he said.
Dr. Draman warned that the danger lies not just in the numbers, but in the likelihood of rubber-stamping executive policies, shutting out civil society, and muting dissenting voices. He stressed the need for journalists and civil society groups to be more vigilant, calling the media a key barrier against potential abuse of legislative power.
“If Ghanaians are not angry, and the media does not educate or interrogate these moves, the Majority can do as it pleases—including altering the very Constitution that governs us,” he said.
The event, themed “Enhancing the Image of Parliament through the Towering Role of the Media,” also served as a forum for journalists to reassess their role in shaping national discourse and defending institutional transparency.
Dr. Draman’s remarks come at a time when concerns are growing about the balance of power in Ghana’s political system and the capacity of Parliament to remain a forum for open and rigorous debate.
Currently, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) holds 87 seats, with four independent MPs caucusing with the Majority side, while one seat—Akwatia—remains vacant following the recent passing of MP Ernest Yaw Kumi.
