Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has formally petitioned Parliament’s Speaker to refer Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee. Ayariga accuses Afenyo-Markin of defying a parliamentary resolution that removed him from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
On the parliamentary floor, Ayariga detailed the controversy, revealing that the ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in Ghana’s newly appointed delegation. This impasse was only resolved after Ghana threatened to withdraw completely from the regional body.
Describing Afenyo-Markin’s actions as a serious breach of parliamentary privilege, Ayariga emphasized the gravity of the defiance.
“By defying this Parliament’s resolution, removing him from the delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, and actually going to Port Harcourt and attending the session, Mr. Speaker, he has clearly, clearly affronted the dignity and engaged in an act that constitutes an affront to the authority of this Parliament,” Ayariga stated.
He called on the Speaker to take immediate disciplinary action, submitting a formal complaint of contempt of Parliament and breach of privilege against Afenyo-Markin.
Ayariga noted, “And it is time that the Honourable Afenyo Markin be put in his proper place.
“Mr. Speaker, I therefore rise, pursuant to the relevant orders, to make a complaint of contempt of Parliament and a breach of Parliamentary privilege, and to urge you, pursuant to the appropriate orders, to refer the Honourable Afenyo Markin Alexander Kwamena, to the Privileges Committee for him to be processed,” he emphasized.
Ayariga urged that, following an investigation by the Privileges Committee, the Minority Leader be sanctioned appropriately if found guilty of defying Parliament’s directive.
“If indeed the Committee comes to a conclusion that my contention that he indeed went and attended the session in clear defiance of our resolution, and that, that act constitutes an affront to the authority of this House, that the appropriate sanctions be executed in relation to the Honourable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin,” he stressed.
Background:
Parliament’s decision to exclude Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament emerged from a formal resolution passed on July 22, 2025.
This resolution explicitly removed Afenyo-Markin from the list of representatives, replacing him with his deputy, Patricia Appiagyei.
The decision was officially communicated to the ECOWAS Parliament ahead of its September session.
The move followed internal parliamentary debates and disputes over Ghana’s representation in the regional legislative body. Afenyo-Markin’s exclusion was reportedly influenced by concerns over his conduct and suitability as a delegate.
The ECOWAS Parliament, when Ghana’s delegation arrived for the session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, found Afenyo-Markin already seated and refusing to vacate the position as per the parliamentary directive.
This defiance led to ECOWAS initially refusing to swear in Ghana’s official delegation until the issue was resolved, causing diplomatic tension
