Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has cited minority leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin for contempt and breach of parliamentary privileges. The speaker has consequently referred the Effutu MP to the Committee on Privileges and Immunities after establishing a prima facie case against him.
Majority leader Mahama Ayariga two weeks ago prayed the speaker to refer the minority leader to the committee after failing to abide by a resolution by the House removing his name from the list of Ghana’s delegation to ECOWAS. The House took the decision and replaced Afenyo-Markin’s name with that of his deputy Patricia Appiagyei. The Asokwa MP however in a subsequent memo to the speaker rejected her inclusion in the delegation.
According to the majority leader when Ghana’s delegation got to the ECOWAS parliament in Port Harcourt, Afenyo-Markin was already seated as a member. Ayariga further revealed speaker of ECOWAS parliament refused to swear in Ghana’s delegation as a result until he threatened Ghana will pull out of ECOWAS over the development.
The speaker has tasked the privileges committee to delve into the matter and report back to the plenary with recommendations.
