The Minority in Parliament has demanded a public apology from both the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin and the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, describing the referral of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for contempt as an international embarrassment.
Their demands follow a petition alleging that Afenyo-Markin participated in an ECOWAS Parliament sitting despite his removal from Ghana’s delegation, an action the Minority insists was procedurally flawed and unjustified. They argue that the petition must be withdrawn without delay.
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Addressing journalists in Parliament on Friday, November 28, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei said the caucus expects a swift resolution to what they describe as an avoidable diplomatic misstep. She stressed that Parliament must restore the integrity of its engagements with regional bodies.
According to her, the Legislature must pass a resolution immediately reinstating Afenyo-Markin onto Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation to correct what she termed a “serious breach” of parliamentary norms.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of the Privileges Committee petition. It is a gross abuse of process and an affront to justice. A public apology from the Speaker and the Majority Leader to ECOWAS and to the people of Ghana is necessary for the international embarrassment they have caused.
“We demand an end to the coordinated persecution of the Minority Leader by the Attorney-General’s office, NDC operatives and party foot soldiers,” she added.
