Bagbin clears the air: ‘Security agencies don’t need my nod to arrest an MP, just tell me after.’
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, has clarified that security agencies do not need his permission to arrest a Member of Parliament suspected of wrongdoing, but must only inform him of the circumstances after such arrests or investigations, explaining that the belief that his approval is required is a misconception and that he would only determine whether an MP enjoys parliamentary privilege once notified. Speaking at the opening of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament in Accra on May 21, 2026, he also highlighted key pending legislation, including the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, 2025, the Parliamentary Transition Bill, 2025, and the Parliament Bill, 2025, stressing their importance to governance and institutional reforms. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticised the government over economic hardship, alleged persecution of opposition members, and renewed power outages, while Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga defended the government’s economic direction, pointing to the adoption of the IMF’s Policy Coordination Instrument as a non-financial framework aimed at restoring fiscal credibility and driving economic reforms.
