News:
May 22, 2026
Parliament resumed its second meeting of the ninth Parliament on Thursday with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga issuing a sharp rebuke of recent attacks on the judiciary while signaling that significant constitutional amendments are on the horizon.
Ayariga, speaking at the commencement of proceedings, cautioned members against criticizing court decisions in a manner that undermines judicial independence, taking direct aim at comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of the New Patriotic Party.
“Recently, the judiciary has come under attack by no less a person than the NPP Minority Leader,” Ayariga told the chamber. “Let me repeat a caution given by this very Minority Leader in this chamber that when you are not satisfied with a decision of a lower court you appeal and seek redress in the higher courts.”
He added: “I want to assure the judiciary that we on this side of the House have their backs.”
Major Constitutional Review Underway
Ayariga announced that the government has finalized its Position Paper responding to the work of the Constitution Review Committee, with specific amendment proposals expected to reach Parliament during this session.
“Our democracy remains a work in progress,” he said. “Even as we are applauded for doing so well, we seek perfection.”
He urged members to prepare for a “heavy schedule of work,” noting that both entrenched and non-entrenched constitutional provisions may be considered for amendment.
A Call for Tangible Results
The Majority Leader reminded fellow legislators that public trust in governance is no longer measured by speeches alone.
“Ghanaians expect accountability, transparency, and responsive leadership,” Ayariga said. “They expect Parliament to rise above partisan divisions whenever the need arises and rally around the desire to improve their lives and livelihoods.”
He described lawmakers as the hope of “the farmer in Sombo, the trader at Makola, the market woman at Kejetia, the teacher at Fomena, the fisherman at Elmina, the young entrepreneur at Atidzive in Akatsi South, the nurse in Hohoe, the young student in Bawku and the everyday Ghanaian.”
Democracy Under Regional Pressure
Ayariga also warned that recent developments across the sub-region threaten democratic governance and stability, calling on Parliament to govern “accountably with honesty, maturity, patriotism, and national unity.”
He commended Ghanaian citizens for their continued faith in democratic governance despite economic challenges, while acknowledging that the nation’s democratic maturity has been built on “tolerance, dialogue and institutional resilience.”
The second meeting of the second session is expected to be among the most consequential in recent parliamentary history as the government pushes forward with its constitutional reform agenda.
Ghanamps.com