Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has reaffirmed the independence of his office, stressing that he is accountable to Parliament and the Ghanaian people, not the President.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the committee planning activities for the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court on Thursday, June 11, Mr. Bagbin sought to dispel the common perception that the Speaker serves at the pleasure of the President.

He explained that the Speaker derives his mandate from Members of Parliament who elect him through a formal process and is therefore not subject to presidential control or directives.

According to him, while the President may express views on matters before Parliament, such opinions do not automatically become the position of the House.

Mr. Bagbin cited developments following the 2021 parliamentary elections as evidence that the preferences of the Executive do not necessarily determine decisions within Parliament, underscoring the autonomy of the legislative arm of government.

"The Speaker is elected by Members of Parliament and not appointed by the President. My responsibility is first to the House and to the nation. I may listen to views from the President and others, as part of engagement and consultation, but I am not compelled to act on those views," he stated.

The Speaker also used the occasion to advocate reforms within the judiciary, particularly regarding the process for selecting judges of the Supreme Court and the leadership of the bench.

He argued that the judiciary should be granted greater authority in determining its own leadership and appointments, similar to how Parliament elects its Speaker and Members through established institutional processes.

Mr. Bagbin maintained that allowing judicial officers a stronger role in choosing their leaders would reinforce the independence of the judiciary and strengthen democratic governance.