Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has formally referred Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to the Committee on Privileges and Immunities following allegations of contempt of Parliament.
The referral comes after Majority Leader and MP for Bawku Central Hon. Mahama Ayariga petitioned the Speaker over Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s reported defiance of a parliamentary resolution that excluded him from Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation.
Addressing the House, Speaker Bagbin stated, “I refer the complaint against the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee and report to the House.” He urged members of the Committee to handle the matter with professionalism and neutrality, while calling on MPs to refrain from public commentary during the process.
The petition filed by Hon. Ayariga highlighted Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s appearance at the ECOWAS Parliament sitting in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, despite his removal from Ghana’s delegation.
The Majority Leader contended that Ghana’s ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in the delegation because of Afenyo-Markin’s presence, a situation that was only resolved after Ghana threatened to withdraw entirely. In his petition, Hon. Ayariga described Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s actions as a breach of parliamentary privilege, requesting disciplinary action.
Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin, in reading the complaint before the House, emphasized that Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s alleged conduct raised serious issues regarding the dignity and authority of Parliament.
“Hon Members, having reviewed the complaint, the Standing Orders, and the governing principles, I am satisfied that the matter raised prima facie implicates the dignity and institutional integrity of this House pursuant to Order 34(1)”
Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
Further Action
The Committee on Privileges and Immunities is expected to investigate, examine, and report on the matter in due course. Parliament will then consider the Committee’s recommendations before taking further action. This move reinforces the principle that no member, regardless of position, is above parliamentary rules or the Standing Orders of the House.
Lawmakers and political observers alike have noted the delicate balance required in managing high-profile cases that involve both legal and institutional considerations. For many, Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s referral to the Privileges Committee demonstrates that Parliament is committed to enforcing discipline among its members.
His case, in particular, has attracted attention because it touches on issues of executive-legislative protocol and regional representation, highlighting the need for transparency and adherence to parliamentary norms.
Speaker Bagbin also clarified the status of the Kpandai parliamentary seat – following a High Court ruling which annulled the 2024 election results for Kpandai and led the Majority caucus to call for the seat to be declared vacant immediately.
However, the Speaker stressed that such a declaration would be premature, noting that a stay remains in force until December 1, 2025, and any appeal by Hon. Nyindam could trigger additional legal processes. This clarification ensures that Parliament adheres strictly to the law while maintaining procedural fairness.
As the Privileges Committee begins its inquiry into Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s alleged contempt, Parliament and the public await a process that is both impartial and thorough. The Committee’s findings will set an important precedent on how disputes regarding delegation protocols and compliance with parliamentary resolutions are handled.
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