Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has issued warning to politicians who turn funerals into campaign grounds.
Bagbin made the remark while expressing outrage over what he described as growing disrespect for deceased Members of Parliament.
He lamented that once an MP is dead, his replacement is prioritised over mourning.
His comments followed the death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Akwatia MP, who passed away on July 7, 2025.
Addressing Parliament, Bagbin expressed shock at Kumi’s death and criticised the growing trend of political jostling that often overshadows the mourning of departed MPs.
“We are all shocked by the demise of our colleague. But we’re just trying to do the proper thing. And it could be any of us. That is what gave the public the impression that you don’t matter… So immediately it happens, nobody cares about the dead. They are looking at who is going to replace the dead,” Bagbin lamented.
Recounting a past incident at a funeral in Fomena, the Speaker condemned the practice of wearing candidates campaign T-shirts at funerals of deceased MPs.
“I told them that in the unlikely event that I am no more as a Member of Parliament, anybody who comes to my funeral with a T-shirt of another person will not go back… So please, take this seriously and let’s do the proper thing,” he stressed.
He added that the Electoral Commission (EC) would be duly informed of the vacancy in Akwatia in line with proper procedures.
Meanwhile, the Minority caucus staged a walkout on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The protest was triggered by criticism from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who faulted Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin for announcing Kumi’s death in the absence of the Speaker.
Ayariga argued that the act breached parliamentary protocol, insisting that only the Speaker is constitutionally mandated to communicate a vacancy to the House.
“Are we to treat the communication from the leader of the Minority caucus… that our colleague belonging to his side is no more, as a communication that the seat has become vacant? This House, ordinarily, has never in the past discussed the matter until there was an official communication by the Speaker,” Ayariga stated.
Afenyo-Markin, however, defended his decision, insisting he had issued a “clear caveat” when making the announcement.
The Minority, unhappy with Ayariga’s remarks, described them as “insensitive” and walked out in protest.
I recall making a statement at Fomena that anyone who attends my funeral wearing a T-shirt promoting someone seeking to succeed me will not return… – Speaker Bagbin#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/ESazs1vuH4
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) July 17, 2025
AM/KA
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