NPP loyalist and cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Gabby Otchere-Darko, has sparked controversy with a scathing social media attack on Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. In a recent Twitter post, Otchere-Darko launched a sharp critique, laced with insults, aimed at Bagbin’s interpretation of Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, accusing him of twisting the law in a way that defies logic.
Otchere-Darko’s tweet, filled with mocking language, described Bagbin’s reasoning as a “serpentine bypass of cerebral discord,” implying that the Speaker’s understanding was not only flawed but lacking intellectual coherence. Referring to Bagbin’s decision to declare certain MPs’ seats vacant for filing as independent candidates, Otchere-Darko suggested that the Speaker had completely distorted the intentions of the framers of the Constitution, essentially resurrecting the very issues Article 97 was meant to solve.
With biting sarcasm, Otchere-Darko labeled Bagbin as “Emperor Alban Humpty-Dumpty Bagbin,” a reference that ridicules the Speaker’s authority and competence. The use of “Emperor” implies a despotic, arbitrary decision-making style, while the “Humpty-Dumpty” analogy suggests Bagbin’s rulings are precarious and likely to collapse under scrutiny.
The harsh critique follows Bagbin’s ruling that MPs who declare themselves as independent candidates should forfeit their seats, even if they maintain their party affiliations during their term in Parliament. Otchere-Darko accused Bagbin of manipulating the Constitution to fit his own agenda, calling the Speaker’s approach “the comedy of the Bagbinian doctrine.”
Otchere-Darko’s words have triggered widespread debate, not just for the substance of his legal argument, but for the sheer brazenness of the insults directed at one of the highest offices in the country. Critics have called his remarks disrespectful, arguing that such personal attacks degrade political discourse. Others, however, see Otchere-Darko’s outburst as an expression of frustration with what they perceive to be political maneuvering by Bagbin in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections.
The provocative nature of Otchere-Darko’s language, particularly his mocking portrayal of the Speaker, has brought the conversation about the role and powers of the Speaker to the forefront, but in a way that risks overshadowing the serious constitutional questions at hand. Whether intended as political theater or genuine outrage, his comments have certainly ignited a heated debate around the Speaker’s authority and the interpretation of Ghana’s laws.
According to Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, an MP has no constitutional right to take steps with the intention to change party affiliation even if only for a future contest, without losing her seat and, if it is too late for a by-election, then she can no longer continue to…
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) October 17, 2024
