Ghana: MPs Cautioned Against Offensive Language During Proceedings

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Ghanaian Times report dated 27 July 2026, said Ghana’s First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, warned MPs to avoid offensive or misleading remarks during proceedings. Ahiafor, who is also MP for Akatsi South, said such language could breach Parliament’s Standing Orders and disrupt the work of the House.

The caution arose after First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu spoke while seconding a motion to adjourn Friday’s sitting. According to the report, Iddrisu said he had heard that tomato and onion traders in markets were unhappy with the mid-year budget statement delivered the previous day by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and were waiting to see him. He also suggested some Majority MPs had stayed away from proceedings because they were not encouraged by the budget presentation.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga rejected the remarks and called for Iddrisu to withdraw them and apologise to Forson, arguing that MPs should treat parliamentary business with seriousness. Ayariga also said the House had agreed to start debate on the mid-year budget statement on Tuesday after Iddrisu requested a rescheduling during a conclave.

Iddrisu denied saying the traders intended to attack the Finance Minister, saying Ayariga had misconstrued him. Ahiafor, who presided over the sitting, said the parliamentary record would show what was said and reminded MPs that constitutional immunity for comments in Parliament does not prevent those comments from raising questions of privilege. The episode matters because it highlights tensions around budget debate and the rules meant to preserve order in Ghana’s legislature.