The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to refer Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for allegedly defying a parliamentary resolution that removed him from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr. Ayariga noted that the ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in Ghana’s delegation after Mr. Afenyo-Markin appeared in Port Harcourt despite being replaced on the team.
He disclosed that the impasse was resolved only after Ghana threatened to withdraw entirely from the ECOWAS Parliament.
In his petition to the Speaker on Wednesday, November 11, Mr. Ayariga described the Minority Leader’s actions as a violation of parliamentary privilege and called for disciplinary measures to be taken.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has acknowledged receipt of the petition and announced that he will deliver a ruling on the matter on Wednesday.
“I have cited the provision of Order 31, which states that any act or omission which affronts the dignity or authority of Parliament constitutes contempt of Parliament and a breach of parliamentary privileges.
“By defying this parliamentary resolution removing him from the ECOWAS delegation and actually going to Port Harcourt to attend the session, he has clearly affronted the dignity and engaged in an act that constitutes an affront to the authority of this Parliament,” he stated.
