News:
August 4, 2025
Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has taken a swipe at the Majority side of the House led by its leader Mahama Ayariga for what he described as a “breach of trust” and disregard for parliamentary procedure concerning the reconstitution of the country’s delegation to the Community Parliament.
In his closing remarks to end the second meeting of the first session of the ninth Parliament on Friday, August 1, 2025, Minority leader recounted the circumstances surrounding his unexpected removal from the ECOWAS delegation list, calling it “strange” and a serious departure from established agreements and internal understanding between parliamentary leadership.
“That resolution, to my astonishment, included my replacement with my Deputy, without prior consultation with our Caucus. As a duly sworn-in Member of the ECOWAS Parliament with a mandate of four years and currently serving as a Deputy Speaker of that august sub-regional body, this action was not only procedurally flawed but also contrary to the governing protocols of the ECOWAS Parliament, which provides for a fixed four-year tenure”.
According to him her deputy submitted a memorandum to the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin registering her objection to her inclusion in the delegation and affirming that she had not consented to such. “I am aware that your office acknowledged this and assured that no such communication would be transmitted to ECOWAS”. Yet, to our utmost surprise, a letter dated the same day 25th July 2025 was sent to the ECOWAS Secretariat listing her name as part of the reconstituted delegation.
The Minority Leader further added, “Mr. Speaker, my objection to this development does not amount to a disregard for the authority of Parliament or the decisions of the House. Rather, it is a principled assertion of the rights conferred upon me by my Caucus and the mandate I carry from the ECOWAS Parliament. I do not seek conflict; I seek consistency, legality and respect for due process.
I therefore urged the House to take cognisance of the error and avoid actions that may embarrass the leadership of Parliament or expose its Members to ridicule before international bodies. I remain resolute in standing by the rules of ECOWAS and the confidence reposed in me by my Caucus and I trust that this matter will be corrected in a manner befitting the dignity of this House, he concluded.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com