The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has petitioned Parliament to refer Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee, accusing him of defying a parliamentary resolution that removed him from the country’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
Ayariga said Afenyo-Markin’s appearance at the ECOWAS Parliament session in Port Harcourt despite his replacement caused tensions with the regional body, which initially refused to swear in Ghana’s delegation. The standoff was resolved only after Ghana reportedly threatened to withdraw from the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a petition submitted to Speaker Alban Bagbin, Ayariga described the Minority Leader’s conduct as a “breach of parliamentary privilege” and called for disciplinary action. He cited Parliament’s standing orders, which classify any act that undermines its authority as contempt.
Bagbin has acknowledged receipt of the petition and said he will issue a ruling on the matter on Wednesday.