News:
June 6, 2025
Minority leader of Ghana’s ninth Parliament and third deputy Speaker of the sixth Community parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has urged the Authority of Heads of States and Governments of the West African sub-region to take a critical look at empowering the parliament to perform legislative functions as the parliament currently only deliberate without enactment powers.
According to him the Authority of Heads of States and Government has done that for another arm of government, that is the ECOWAS Court of Justice which is able to make certain legal pronouncement which are enforced in member states.
He urged his colleague the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga who had previously served in the ECOWAS Parliament for many years and now leader of Government Business to table the issue of legislative powers for the community parliament before President John Dramani Mahama, when he goes to cabinet that when he meets his colleagues this issue should be on the burner.
The judiciary has those powers; the only arm left is the parliament. “Even when we go on missions because you do not have any powers, you go there and sometimes you are snubbed and you come back home quietly”.
He made these remarks on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, whiles contributing to a statement made by Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah to commemorate the celebration of ECOWAS @50, and added that if the Community parliament had legislative powers, they would look at laws that would enhance integration and that would help the course of ECOWAS.
The only central force to hold democracy together is parliamentary democracy, stating that the reason Ghana has survived is not because of the judiciary, is not because of the institutions that make up the executive, but it is because of parliament; the people’s representatives, so that the people would have confidence that when things get out of hand their representatives would speak for them, he said.
“Yes, I am the third deputy speaker as has been said; what is it about third deputy speaker who only preside over a chamber that only deliberates without any legislative powers? Your gavel becomes effective when what is said can be enforced or become a subject matter of interpretation by a court”.
Hon Afenyo-Markin further commended those who came before him and were part of the ECOWAS infrastructure, saying “Ghana made significant contributions in the Sub-region. Ghanaians who went to ECOWAS Parliament and the commission, I do not have time to mention names but any Ghanaian who entered the sub-region, be it administrator, an MP, distinguish himself and herself and all these contributions have made our country Ghana a shining example in the sub-region”.
He acknowledged the many efforts by ECOWAS to ensure some regional stability, but added that despite the strides made so far, a lot more needs to be done.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com