Tensions have escalated in Parliament after the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, formally accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of contempt for attending an ECOWAS Parliament session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, despite a resolution removing him from Ghana’s delegation.
During proceedings on Tuesday, Ayariga urged Speaker Alban Bagbin to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for review and possible sanctions if Afenyo-Markin is found guilty of defying the authority of the House. He cited Order 31(o), which defines acts or omissions that affront the dignity of Parliament as constituting contempt or a breach of parliamentary privilege.
The complaint stems from a resolution passed on July 22, 2025, that formally removed Afenyo-Markin from the list of Ghana’s ECOWAS delegates. Despite this, the Minority Leader reportedly attended the session from September 25 to 28 in Port Harcourt, refusing to step aside as instructed. According to Ayariga, this act directly challenged the authority of the Ghanaian Parliament.
The Majority Leader recounted that Ghana’s officially designated delegation faced delays in being sworn in because of Afenyo-Markin’s presence. He claimed that the ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in the four officially approved delegates. Ayariga said he threatened the ECOWAS Speaker with a parliamentary directive to withdraw Ghana from the regional body if the issue was not resolved, prompting the swearing-in of the approved members.
Ayariga maintained that the Minority Leader’s attendance was a clear defiance of Parliament’s resolution and therefore an affront to its authority. He called on the Speaker to ensure that appropriate sanctions are considered to uphold the dignity and integrity of the House.
Speaker Bagbin, responding to the complaint, acknowledged the clarity of rules regarding contempt but said he would take the day to review the case before making a decision. He assured members that his ruling, including whether to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee, would be communicated the following day.
This development adds another layer to the ongoing parliamentary power dynamics, highlighting the friction between Majority and Minority leaders in enforcing House resolutions and maintaining parliamentary protocol.
