Joseph Osei-Owusu, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, has openly criticized Speaker Alban Kingsford Bagbin’s leadership style, describing it as autocratic.
His remarks came during an interview with Akoto Mansa on the Asetena Pa show, where he drew comparisons between Bagbin and his predecessors.
Osei-Owusu, who has served under multiple Speakers, did not mince words about his experiences under Bagbin. “Unlike the previous Speakers, he acts as though the position is his personal property,” he stated.
“There have been times when I’ve had to challenge him on certain decisions, and his approach to leadership has been completely different from what we were used to.”
The Bekwai MP particularly contrasted Bagbin’s tenure with that of former Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, under whom he served as First Deputy Speaker.
According to Osei-Owusu, Oquaye’s leadership style was more structured and accommodating, while Bagbin tends to make unilateral decisions that leave little room for consensus.
Despite these criticisms, Osei-Owusu clarified that his concerns are strictly professional. “I have no personal issues with him,” he emphasized. “My disagreements are purely about his methods and the way he manages the House.”
Bagbin, Ghana’s first Speaker elected from an opposition party, has often been at the center of controversy, with members of the Majority caucus accusing him of bias.
His leadership has seen heated parliamentary debates, walkouts, and a series of near-stalemates on key national issues.
