Bagbin advocates Judicial reforms, calls for Judges to choose their own leaders

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has renewed calls for significant reforms within Ghana’s judiciary, arguing that judicial officers should be given greater authority to select their own leaders in order to strengthen the independence of the justice system.

Speaking in a video shared by JoyNews on June 12, 2026, Bagbin maintained that the influence of external actors in the appointment of judges and heads of the judiciary should be minimized. According to him, professionals within the legal system are best positioned to determine who leads their institution.

He stressed that judges should be allowed to choose their own leadership, just as other professional bodies are given the opportunity to manage their internal affairs without undue interference.

Drawing parallels with Parliament, Bagbin explained that neither Members of Parliament nor the Speaker are appointed by the President. Instead, they attain their positions through established electoral processes.

Watch video

He noted that many Ghanaians mistakenly believe the Speaker is appointed by the President, a perception he said he frequently corrects.

Bagbin further clarified that although the President may have some influence in certain parliamentary procedures, that influence does not automatically determine the final decision of the House. He cited his election as Speaker in 2021 as an example, stating that the preference of the President did not ultimately prevail.

According to him, the Speaker derives authority from Parliament and is accountable to Members of Parliament and the nation, rather than the Presidency.

His remarks come at a time when discussions about reforms aimed at enhancing the independence and effectiveness of Ghana’s judicial system continue to gain momentum.