'I apologise for calling you rude' — NPP MP Kabiru to Speaker Bagbin

Walewale Member of Parliament Dr Kabiru Tiah Mahama has withdrawn his description of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to recall Parliament as “rude” and rendered an unreserved apology to the Speaker and the House.

The MP’s apology came after Speaker Bagbin raised the matter during Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following comments Dr Tiah Mahama made at a press engagement concerning the recall.

While acknowledging the right of MPs to disagree with his decisions, Mr Bagbin cautioned that such criticism must be expressed in a manner that preserves the dignity of Parliament and the office of the Speaker.

“A member may criticise the Speaker’s judgment in exercising it, but criticism of the exercise of a constitutional or procedural function should not descend into language which is disrespectful of the office through which that function is exercised,” he said.

The Speaker explained that his decision to recall the House was based on Order 58(4) of Parliament’s Standing Orders after President John Dramani Mahama requested that Parliament consider specified urgent matters.

He stressed that MPs were free to question parliamentary decisions and challenge procedures they considered inappropriate, but such disagreements should not diminish the authority of the institutions through which Ghana’s democratic system operates.

Mr Bagbin subsequently directed Dr Tiah Mahama to withdraw the “rude” description and apologise to both the House and the Speaker.

Responding to the directive, the Walewale MP admitted using the word during his press conference and said he had misunderstood its meaning.

“Even though I thought the meaning to mean sadly and unpleasantly, as my dictionary told me, but I was wrong, Mr. Speaker. And I would withdraw that word unreservedly, and I apologise for saying that,” he said.

The incident formed part of the Speaker’s wider appeal for greater responsibility in political and public discourse.

Mr Bagbin urged political actors to maintain decorum when expressing disagreements and avoid language that could be interpreted as insulting or disrespectful to public institutions and officeholders.