Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has attributed the declining oversight role of Parliament to excessive executive influence and political patronage, warning that the current system incentivises loyalty to the Presidency over accountability.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Monday, December 15, Prof. Oquaye argued that many Members of Parliament from the governing party prioritise personal political advancement ahead of their constitutional duties.
According to him, MPs increasingly focus on attracting presidential attention in the hope of securing ministerial appointments, rather than scrutinising government actions.
“No wonder Parliament cannot be a check on the executive. The Member of Parliament whose party is in power is more anxious to catch the eye of the President to become a Minister than to catch the eye of the Speaker,” he said.
Prof. Oquaye noted that this dynamic has weakened legislative engagement, contributing to low attendance and ineffective scrutiny of executive power.
“No wonder most of the time, Parliament is virtually empty. Because the system has no counter-vailing mechanisms,” he added.
He explained that the concentration of power around the Presidency has distorted incentives within Parliament, with lawmakers directing their energies toward Jubilee House rather than their oversight responsibilities.
“And you find everybody looking towards the one and only source, that is the Jubilee House,” Prof. Oquaye stated.
The former Speaker warned that without deliberate structural reforms to strengthen Parliament’s independence, the imbalance between the legislature and the executive will persist, further eroding democratic accountability.
His comments have reignited debate about the need for reforms to insulate Parliament from executive dominance and restore its role as an effective check on government power.
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