Speaker of Parliament Alban Suman Kingsford Bagbin has charged political parties to stop rewarding politicians and functionaries who rely on provocative and abusive language to gain attention.
He warned that such practices risk encouraging a culture of intolerance in the country’s political discourse.
Political party leaders, he said, have a responsibility to shape the conduct and language of their members, both within and outside Parliament.
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Speaking during Parliament’s one-day emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Mr. Bagbin stressed that politicians who are celebrated or given prominence because of their harsh rhetoric could encourage others to adopt similar tactics in the belief that abusive language is a pathway to recognition.
“Don’t reward only bitter tongues. That is what I have observed up to date,” Speaker Bagbin told the House.
According to him, such an approach could create an incentive for politicians and party functionaries to use increasingly provocative language simply to attract public attention.
“That encourages others to copy that because that is how they will be recognized. We are not going to entertain that anymore,” he added.
The Speaker said political disagreements are an essential part of democracy and that political actors have every right to criticise governments, opposition parties, institutions and public officials.
However, he drew a distinction between robust political debate and personal abuse.
“Robust disagreement is legitimate. Strong criticism is legitimate,” he said, adding that holding governments, the opposition, the Speaker, parliamentary leadership and state institutions to account is also legitimate.
He said Members of Parliament occupy positions of public trust and therefore have a responsibility to demonstrate that political disagreements can be expressed firmly without descending into disrespect.
The Speaker said the responsibility applies equally to the Majority and Minority sides of the House and to political actors across the country.
Bagbin noted that the words and conduct of political leaders have an influence beyond Parliament, particularly in an era where speeches, interviews and political statements are rapidly circulated through social media and other digital platforms.
He therefore urged political party leaders to ensure that their public engagements contribute to a healthier national conversation rather than intensifying political divisions.
According to him, Parliament cannot demand responsible communication from citizens, journalists, bloggers and content creators while failing to examine the conduct of its own members.
“We cannot credibly demand higher standards of public discourse from the society if we are unwilling to demand those standards of ourselves,” he said.
The Speaker called on MPs to maintain responsible conduct during parliamentary proceedings, committee meetings, press conferences, radio and television interviews and on social media.
He expressed concern about the growing use of insults, threats, ethnic insinuations and allegations circulated without sufficient regard for their truth or consequences.
He acknowledged that social media and other digital platforms had expanded democratic participation by giving citizens greater opportunities to express opinions, criticise public officials, expose wrongdoing and demand accountability.
However, he said those democratic gains should not be allowed to become a justification for threats, incitement, deliberate falsehoods or the reckless abuse of others.