“This Is Political Persecution!” — Minority Condemns Speaker’s Referral of Afenyo-Markin to Privileges Committee

The Minority Caucus has issued a strong rebuke against the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban Bagbin, following his decision to refer the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, to the Privileges Committee.

They described the Speaker’s ruling as “the culmination of a coordinated campaign of intimidation” and “a cynical, diabolical, and constitutionally perverse scheme” allegedly orchestrated within Parliament.

Addressing a press conference, the Minority Leader, Hon Patricia Appiagyei, insisted that the referral had little to do with parliamentary procedure and everything to do with “the weaponisation of standing orders” aimed at silencing a “fearless opposition leader.”

Alleged Plot to Remove Minority Leader from ECOWAS Delegation

The Deputy Minority Leader tied her concerns to a controversial development on July 22, 2025, which occurred while the Minority Leader was reportedly unwell.

She claimed that the Majority Leader, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, “steadily and clandestinely” moved to alter Ghana’s delegation list to the ECOWAS Parliament by removing Hon. Afenyo-Markin and inserting her in his place.

Non-consultation

She stressed that she “was neither consulted nor did [she] consent to this scheme.”

She said on the same day, July 22, she formally notified the Speaker that she had not been consulted and warned that the move constituted “procedural impropriety” that could lead to “public embarrassment.”

Despite her objections, the Deputy Leader said the Speaker reportedly transmitted a revised delegation list to the ECOWAS Parliament on July 25, 2025, excluding the Minority Leader’s name and including hers.

ECOWAS Response and Diplomatic Concerns

According to Hon. Appiagyei, the ECOWAS Parliament formally rebuked the development. In a letter dated September 8, 2025, the ECOWAS Speaker reportedly notified Ghana’s Speaker of an upcoming diplomatic mission to Accra to address what it called a “flagrant violation of Article 18 of the Supplementary Act.”

She further argued that a subsequent letter from the Majority Leader on September 25, 2025—recommending that only four nominees be sworn in—amounted to an “involuntary confession” of wrongdoing.

Hon. Appiagyei maintained that the incident had “humiliated Ghana on the international stage,” accusing the Speaker and Majority Leader of being the “architects of this disgrace.”

Defense of Afenyo-Markin’s Actions

The Deputy Minority Leader defended Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s decision to continue performing his duties, stating that he was constitutionally obligated to ignore the resolution seeking his removal.

The Minority cited Article 18.3 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Act, which lists the only grounds on which a seat may become vacant—none of which, she argued, applied to the Minority Leader.

Drawing from Articles 1, 3, and 41 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, she asserted, “A law or resolution that violates the Constitution and an international treaty obligation is not merely defective, it is null and void. It commands no obedience.”

“The Minority Leader, in refusing to acquiesce to an unconstitutional and intentionally unlawful resolution, was not being insubordinate. He was being a patriot.”

Call for Immediate Action and End to “Persecution”

Hon. Appiagyei characterized the Privileges Committee petition as an act of “vindictive prosecution” timed just one day after the Minority Leader allegedly exposed what she described as the government’s attempt to influence voting for the Chief Justice nominee.

The Minority Caucus issued demands for immediate withdrawal of the Privileges Committee petition, a public apology from the Speaker and Majority Leader to ECOWAS and the people of Ghana.

They asked for a restoration of Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s name to Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation, an end to what they describe as coordinated persecution of the Minority Leader, and the prosecution of Chief Sofo-Azoka for alleged public threats of violence against the Minority Leader

The Deputy Minority Leader said the incident left “an indelible stain on Ghana’s democracy,” vowing to stand firmly with Hon. Afenyo-Markin in defense of constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com