The Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, has described the Speaker’s decision to refer the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to the Privileges Committee of Parliament as a calculated attempt to gag the Minority Caucus and cause deep division within its members.
She accused both the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, of scheming a coordinated campaign of intimidation, harassment and institutional abuse to remove the Minority Leader from the ECOWAS Parliament.
She said the two removed Mr Afenyo-Markin’s name from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament without any consultation or seeking her consent.
“This is a cynical, diabolical and constitutionally perverse scheme ever orchestrated within the precincts of Ghana’s Parliament,” she said, saying that the move had embarrassed Ghana before the community of West African nations.
Alleged persecution
Speaking at a news conference in reaction to the Speaker’s decision to refer Mr Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee, Mrs Appiagyei said, “Mahama Ayariga dared to petition the
Speaker to refer the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee for performing his lawful duties as a sworn member and Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
“This is not parliamentary oversight. This is vindictive persecution as the timing is revealing. This petition came exactly one day after the Minority Leader led our side at the Appointments Committee to expose the NDC government’s dishonourable attempt to secure parliamentary vetting for the then Chief Justice nominee, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
“This is retaliation, pure and simple,” she said, insisting that the Speaker should have dismissed it rather than entertaining it.
Last Thursday, the Speaker referred the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee to determine whether his decision to attend a session in the ECOWAS Parliament constitutes contempt of Parliament.
The issue revolves around the parliamentary delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, and Mr Afenyo-Markin’s failure to vacate his position and cease participation in the regional body’s proceedings.
Mrs Appiagyei described the Speaker’s referral of the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee as unlawful.
She said what was being witnessed was not parliamentary procedure but political persecution.
“It is not the enforcement of Standing Orders; it is the weaponisation of Standing Orders.
“And it is not about upholding the dignity of Parliament, but about crushing a fearless opposition leader who has consistently stood between this nation and constitutional anarchy,” she said.
The Deputy Minority Leader’s comments is an interesting development given that the Speaker ordered that no Member of Parliament should run public commentary on the subject upon his ruling.
