I rejected Mahama’s NHIA Board Chair offer – Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has revealed that he turned down an offer from President John Mahama to chair the Board of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), arguing that such roles compromise the independence of Parliament.

Bagbin shared this during a discussion on the increasing number of Members of Parliament (MPs) accepting executive appointments, including positions on state boards.

He believes this trend weakens Parliament’s oversight role over the Executive.

“People disagreed with me, and they continued. Today, I was offered to be Chair of the National Health Insurance Authority. As you all know, Speakers chair it. I rejected it because I think it’s not proper,” he said.

He warned that it is inappropriate for lawmakers to serve on boards, make decisions within the Executive, and later return to Parliament to approve those same decisions. According to him, this creates a conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of parliamentary processes.

Bagbin also recalled that in 2009, as Majority Leader, he declined a ministerial appointment as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs for similar reasons.

“I could not see the authority of a Majority Leader, the leader of the House, as a minister to be under the dictates and directives of the Executive,” he explained.

He urged MPs to recognise the need for a clear separation between their legislative duties and executive responsibilities, noting that such overlaps risk prejudice and weaken institutional checks and balances.