On January 3, 2025, during the State of the Nation Address, tension escalated in Ghana’s Parliament when First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo openly confronted Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, following sharp criticism of her husband, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The incident unfolded as parliamentary proceedings wrapped up. After President Akufo-Addo’s speech, which included signing the chronicle, Rebecca Akufo-Addo expressed her frustration towards the Speaker. She was particularly upset over the remarks made by Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who had labeled the current administration as the “worst government in the 4th Republic of Ghana.”
In a moment captured on video, the First Lady pointedly snubbed Speaker Bagbin, refusing to acknowledge his attempt at exchanging pleasantries. In her exasperation, she was heard saying, “You sit there and allow people to speak anyhow,” clearly indicating her discontent with Bagbin’s handling of the parliamentary session’s decorum.
The Speaker, caught off guard by the First Lady’s rebuke, proceeded with his responsibilities without much public reaction. However, this confrontation did not go unnoticed. It quickly became viral on social media platforms, where many Ghanaians condemned the First Lady for her involvement in parliamentary affairs, deeming it inappropriate and a breach of protocol.
This incident has stirred debate about the roles and boundaries of the First Lady in political settings, questioning the etiquette expected in such high-stakes, formal environments. It also highlights the ongoing political tensions in Ghana, where parliamentary discourse often reflects the broader political climate.
The video of the confrontation has been widely shared, fueling discussions on the responsibilities of parliamentary leaders in maintaining order and the influence of public figures like the First Lady in shaping political narratives.
🚨ICYMI🇬🇭😠🗣️: “You sit there and allow people to speak to us anyhow.”— a visibly upset First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo after rejecting a hand gesture from the Speaker Alban Bagbin in the chamber after President Akufo-Addo’s final State of the Nation Address pic.twitter.com/mysbQzgFT7 https://t.co/9gUSP7p3Ns
— Ölele | DTS👨🏾🍳🇬🇭 (@OleleSalvador) January 3, 2025