What happens when those entrusted to represent the voice of the people choose silence over participation? In an explosive turn of events inside Ghana’s Parliament, the Minority caucus, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, staged a dramatic walkout—boycotting the high-stakes vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. The scene was tense, emotions ran high, and every observer wondered: was this protest a power move, or did it do more harm than good?
According to renowed US-based Ghanaian lawyer and legal scholar Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, better known as Kwaku Azar, this boycott missed the mark in more ways than one. But before we delve into his reasoning, let’s unpack the backstory and why this development echoes far beyond Ghana, resonating with Nigerians and Africans who follow our region’s political dynamics with keen eyes.
Setting the Scene: Why Did Ghana’s Minority Walk Out?
Here’s the inside story: The Minority’s walkout stemmed from their protest against alleged breaches of constitutional process. They argued the vetting was unlawful given ongoing court challenges, including one reportedly filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo. Their public stance? The process was “tainted” and their absence was a principled stand. For many watching from Abuja to Accra, such parliamentary upheavals feel all too familiar—echoes of Nigerian lawmakers disrupting sessions over appointments and policies they oppose. But, does this strategy move the needle on real change?
In a Facebook post dated November 11, Prof. Kwaku Azar laid out a revealing ten-point critique, arguing the Minority’s action ultimately shot itself in the foot. Let’s walk through his argument—each point paints a vivid picture of why meaningful participation may trump such walkouts, especially in Africa’s evolving democracies.
The Shocking Truth: 10 Reasons the Minority Boycott Fell Flat
1. Silencing Their Own Voice
Parliamentary vetting isn’t mere formality in West Africa; it’s where tough questions get real answers. By stepping out, the Minority essentially tied their own tongues. As Prof. Azar notes, “No answers can be gotten outside the committee room.” How many times have we seen the same thing in Abuja or Lagos, when lawmakers skip key hearings and lose their chance to ask questions that really matter to the electorate?
2. Vanishing from the Historical Record
Attendance isn’t just about optics—your presence writes you into history. Absent voices are truly absent from the official record. Years from now, when students or journalists comb through transcripts, what will they find about the Minority’s contribution that day? Emptiness.
3. Forfeiting the Power of Direct Questions
Imagine the impact of a single, pointed question staring a nominee dead in the eye. According to Professor Azar, one “sharp question” often produces more than a sea of social media rants or press releases. On that day, however, the Minority handed over their power on a platter.
4. Strengthening the Very Process They Opposed
Like African parents say, “If you refuse to go for the meeting, others will decide for you.” The vetting process carried on—no disruption, no delay—handing the floor entirely to the Majority. In politics, vacuums don’t last long, and those you’re trying to curtail usually seize the opportunity.
5. Losing the Moral High Ground
Dialogue is tough, but walking away is often perceived as sulking rather than standing for principle. According to the professor, the Minority’s action looked more like a boyish tantrum—losing out on the moral authority that comes from hard, constructive engagement.
6. Wasting a Hard-Won Constitutional Privilege
Only a few get the chance to grill a Chief Justice nominee. In Ghana or Nigeria, that’s a major democratic milestone. Sadly, that chance doesn’t come every day—and the Minority reportedly let it slip away.
7. Turning Oversight into Oversight Failure
Checks and balances only function when everyone shows up to play their part. The Minority’s absence meant crucial elements of scrutiny and balance simply vanished, and accountability suffered for it.
8. Surrendering the National Narrative
The vetting aired as planned. The nominee faced the Majority’s questions, and across Ghana, citizens heard only one version of events. The Minority’s perspective? Absent from the debate, missing from public consciousness.
9. Reducing Politics to Mere Symbolism
For many observers, walkouts offer soundbites and trending hashtags, but leave no mark on the actual debate. Lasting substance lives in transcripts and decisions, not in the echo of empty chairs. In Nigeria too, bold walkouts draw headlines but rarely move policy.
10. Forgetting Who Sent Them to Parliament
Constituents across Africa expect their representatives to speak, challenge, and defend interests—not vanish in protest. As Kwaku Azar bluntly put it, citizens did not vote them in to stay away.
These points stirred heavy debate among legal experts, youth groups, and policymakers. According to Lagos-based analyst Nnenna Akindele, “Symbolic gestures like walkouts may draw attention, but our continent needs lawmakers who show up, speak up, and follow due process. That’s how democracy grows.”
Feedback from Ghana’s civil society has reportedly leaned toward engagement over withdrawal, arguing that even in the face of unfairness, confronting issues on the floor of parliament offers stronger leverage—and more accountability—for ordinary people.
Still, some defend the Minority’s boycott as an act of protest within their rights, pointing to moments in Nigerian and South African parliamentary history where similar walkouts forced decision-makers to stop and listen.
Across Africa, these debates are far from routine—they’re the pulse of our democracy-in-progress. As West African nations grapple with balancing loyalty to process versus using disruptive acts for attention, Kwaku Azar’s critique reminds us: True change often happens when you stay, ask, and demand answers, not by walking away.
What about you? If faced with such a dilemma, would you choose a walkout or stay and fight with your words? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. For the latest on politics, governance, and the inner workings of African democracies, follow us for updates.
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