STOP THE URGENCY ABUSE: A CRITICAL CALL TO END THE NDC’S CERTIFICATE OF URGENCY ONSLAUGHT IN PARLIAMENT
The NDC majority in Ghana’s 9th Parliament has transformed what should be a deliberative democratic institution into a certificate of urgency factory, bypassing the very scrutiny that protects Ghana’s long-term national interests. This reckless exploitation of parliamentary procedure must not be allowed to continue when the Second Session of the 9th Parliament begins on February 3, 2026.
The Constitution and Standing Orders envisage the certificate of urgency as an exceptional procedural tool, not a default path for pushing major policy changes without adequate debate. Yet, throughout the first session of this Parliament, the NDC majority has repeatedly invoked certificates of urgency to rush through complex legislative and fiscal matters lacking comprehensive consultation. Examples include laws like the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, passed late into the night on June 3, 2025, raising fuel levies and imposing additional burdens on hardworking Ghanaians.
Such behaviour is unacceptable in a mature democracy. The citizens Ghanaian MPs represent deserve full, informed debate, transparency, and accountability from their legislators. Instead, accelerated procedures have reduced Parliament to a rubber-stamp institution, where supermajority numbers are weaponised to fast-track controversial measures without adequate stakeholder input. This is not governance; it is majoritarian overreach.
This aggressive use of urgency is not just procedural mischief; it has real consequences. Rushed bills can conceal fiscal impacts, undermine committee oversight, and deny expert testimony and public participation. Parliament exists not to “get laws on the books” quickly, but to ensure laws are sound, sustainable, and reflective of Ghana’s collective aspirations. Ghana’s future is far too important to be decided behind closed doors or in late-night sittings.
As the Second Session of the 9th Parliament resumes on February 3, 2026, the NDC majority must immediately:
- Cease the routine use of certificates of urgency for non-emergency legislation; reserve this instrument strictly for genuine, time-critical national imperatives.
- Commit to thorough committee review and public hearings on all significant policy changes before final consideration on the floor.
- Engage in cross-party consultation that respects minority voices and enriches the quality of lawmaking.
The NPP Minority in Parliament is prepared to challenge the status quo and uphold democratic norms that strengthen Ghana’s legislative process. The path forward must be anchored in deliberation, accountability, and respect for due process, not in the abuse of procedural gimmicks. Ghana’s democracy demands nothing less.
By: Blessing Mantey
