The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has strongly rejected moves to refer him to Parliament’s Privileges Committee after he was cited for contempt.

The development follows a motion for contempt of Parliament filed by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, accusing Afenyo-Markin of defying parliamentary orders by attending a sitting of the ECOWAS Parliament.

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Speaking on the issue in Parliament on December 19, 2025, Afenyo-Markin insisted that his roles as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament and as the third Deputy Speaker could not be revoked, adding that he would serve his tenure until it expires.

“… The Minority Leader's seat at ECOWAS Parliament is not one of those that can be removed. You can remove the Chief Justice, you can remove others who are political appointees, but not his bona fide rights as a member of ECOWAS Parliament and a third Deputy Speaker. He shall remain until April 2028 when his tenure shall have come to an end,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin framed the controversy as a threat to parliamentary democracy and the rights of elected representatives.

He cautioned the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, against what he described as an unprecedented and dangerous course of action, urging restraint.

“May we return in the new year with a renewed energy, clearer purpose and deeper commitment to serving the people who sent us here and hoping that the Honorable First Deputy Speaker will resist the temptation of hauling the Minority Leader before a so-called Privileges Committee,” he said.

The Effutu lawmaker stated that any attempt to use the Privileges Committee to challenge his status on the ECOWAS Parliament delegation would amount to a violation of democratic norms and parliamentary practice.

“The Minority Leader will insist on his rights, on serving his full term as a third Deputy Speaker at ECOWAS Parliament. Therefore, it is our prayer that the First Deputy Speaker and his committee will resist all temptations as been pushed to do that which is never done in any democracy,” he argued.

He maintained that he has not breached any rule or disrespected the authority of the House, stressing that there is no basis for disciplinary action.

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Afenyo-Markin further revealed that the ECOWAS Parliament itself has already taken a clear position on the matter, rejecting attempts to remove him from his role.

“The Minority Leader has not disrespected any order of this House. Indeed, the ECOWAS Parliament rejected outrightly the resolution that sought to remove the Minority Leader from his seat as an ECOWAS MP,” he insisted.

About the case:

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, accused Afenyo-Markin of defying Parliament’s orders by attending a sitting of the ECOWAS Parliament.

He said the Minority Leader’s decision to attend the ECOWAS session after a resolution was passed by the House to remove him from Ghana’s delegation constitutes contempt.

“The provisions of Order 31 state that any act or omission which affronts the dignity or authority of the Parliament of Ghana, or produces any such effect, constitutes contempt of Parliament and a breach of parliamentary privilege.

“Mr Speaker, by defying this Parliament’s resolution removing him from the ECOWAS Parliament and actually going to Port Harcourt and attending the session, he has clearly affronted the dignity and engaged in an act that constitutes an affront to the authority of this Parliament,” he said.

“You can remove the Chief Justice, but not the Minority Leader from his position as an ECOWAS MP!”

— Afenyo Markin emphasized this point in his closing remarks as Parliament rises today.#GhanaPolitics #GhanaNews #CitiFM #Parliament #CitiNewsroom pic.twitter.com/8qcd0GHOxS

— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 19, 2025