The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, of breaching parliamentary privilege by attending an ECOWAS Parliament meeting despite a resolution by Ghana’s Parliament that removed his name from the delegation.
Mr. Ayariga made the allegation on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, calling for disciplinary action against the Minority Leader for defying the authority of the House.
“By defying this Parliament’s resolution removing him from the delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament and actually going to Port Harcourt and attending the session, Mr Speaker, he has clearly affronted the dignity and engaged in an act that constitutes an affront to the authority of this Parliament,” Ayariga stated.
He further appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to refer Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for possible sanctions.
“Pursuant to the appropriate orders, I urge you to refer the Honourable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for him to be processed, that the appropriate sanctions be executed,” he stressed.
The Speaker has since indicated that he will look into the matter and deliver a ruling on Wednesday, November 13, 2025.
Speaker Bagbin Apologizes to Judiciary Over Vetting Exchanges
Meanwhile, still in Parliament, Speaker Alban Bagbin has apologized to the Judiciary for the heated exchanges that occurred during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, on Monday, November 10.
Mr. Bagbin described the incident as “a lack of decorum” and directed the leadership of the Appointments Committee to ensure that future vettings are conducted with the highest standards of civility and mutual respect.
“The judiciary is independent of control or direction from any person or authority. The doctrine of separation of powers requires that all three arms of government—the executive, legislature, and judiciary—relate to one another with mutual respect and restraint,” the Speaker emphasized.
He assured that Parliament remains committed to maintaining a respectful relationship with the Judiciary and other arms of government.
Vetting Controversy Between Ayariga and Afenyo-Markin
The apology follows a tense altercation between Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin during the vetting of Justice Baffoe Bonnie.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin had stated,
“We gather to vet a disputed nominee for Office of Chief Justice of Ghana. This should be a moment of national pride and institutional renewal.”
His remark sparked an immediate objection from Mr. Ayariga, who argued that the Minority Leader had no authority to comment on matters pending before the courts or related to the nomination process.
“The ranking member has no right, no lawful authority to raise anything about what happened in court, the processes leading to a removal or nomination. Be guided, because if you raise them, I’m going to object,” Ayariga interjected.
The disagreement led to a prolonged standoff lasting nearly two hours, forcing the Appointments Committee to suspend proceedings temporarily. Upon resumption, Afenyo-Markin announced the Minority’s decision to reject the nominee and walked out of the session alongside his colleagues.
The vetting session was attended by the entire hierarchy of the Judiciary, including Justices of the Supreme Court, underscoring the significance of the occasion.
The incident has reignited debate over discipline and decorum in Ghana’s Parliament, as well as the boundaries of parliamentary privilege. Political analysts note that the outcome of the Privileges Committee’s deliberations and the Speaker’s ruling on November 13 could have far-reaching implications for parliamentary conduct and Ghana’s political leadership.
