The Minority in Parliament has accused the Majority of abusing Ghana’s democratic process by systematically misusing the certificate of urgency.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Habib Iddrisu, said the practice has become routine under the current Parliament, despite the government’s campaign promises.
The Tolon MP said the first sitting of Parliament in 2026 was marked by deep concern within the Minority, arguing that the government came into office on the back of promises that were unrealistic, deceptive, and incapable of being delivered.
According to him, the Majority’s conduct in Parliament in 2025 revealed what he described as the irrelevance of the so-called super majority handed to them by Ghanaians. He said this was the basis for the Minority’s recent press conference.
Habib Iddrisu said the Majority rushed several problematic bills through Parliament in 2025 under Certificates of Urgency. He noted that some of these bills were later withdrawn overnight, while others were quickly amended after being hurriedly laid.
“These are part of the reasons that we are preparing the minds of Ghanaians that in 2026, the narrative and the situation are going to be very different from what actually happened in 2025,” he said.
When host Evans Mensah asked whether the use of the Certificate of Urgency was not a standard parliamentary procedure, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip insisted the process had been abused.
He described it as “an abuse of democratic process,” arguing that while the Majority has the numbers, the Standing Orders clearly outline how urgency should be determined. He explained that when a bill is laid, the committee may recommend urgency, but Parliament has the power to accept or reject that recommendation.
He said the Majority’s two-thirds strength allows it to impose its will, but questioned whether any of the bills passed truly merited urgency.
“Can you mention one of the bills that they have passed that is of an urgent nature?” he asked, challenging the Majority’s justification.
Habib Iddrisu disclosed that about 33 bills were passed under Certificates of Urgency within a single year. He said he could hardly recall any bill that did not receive that treatment.
“In one year, about 33 of their bills have come all under a certificate of urgency,” he said, adding that he had repeatedly raised the issue on the floor of Parliament.
He accused the Majority of abusing both the parliamentary process and the numerical strength granted to them by the Ghanaian people.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com