Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has revealed that he turned down an appointment from President John Dramani Mahama to chair the Board of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), citing concerns about preserving the independence and integrity of Parliament.
Bagbin cautioned against the growing trend of Members of Parliament accepting ministerial and executive roles, including board positions in state agencies. According to him, such dual roles compromise Parliament’s oversight function and risk creating conflicts of interest.
“People disagreed with me and they continued. Today, I was offered to be Chair of the National Health Insurance Authority. As you all know, Speakers chair it. I rejected it because I think it’s not proper to go and chair the board, submit reports under the supervision of a minister,” he said.
He questioned the logic of a Speaker or MP presiding over agencies only to return to Parliament to approve the same agency’s reports. “The Speaker is now under a minister, and the report will come to the House and the House will now be presided over by the minister the Speaker,” he added.
Bagbin also recounted declining the position of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in 2009, arguing that it would have compromised his leadership role in Parliament.
“I couldn’t envision a Majority Leader, who is the leader of the House, also serving as a minister under the Executive’s authority. That’s why I’ve consistently opposed the idea of the Majority Leader holding a ministerial position. I’ve long believed these roles shouldn’t be combined,” he stated.
Bagbin’s comments reignite ongoing debates about the separation of powers and the independence of the legislative arm of government in Ghana’s democracy.
