The Deputy Minority Leader, and MP for Asokwa Constituency, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, has condemned what she describes as a “cynical, diabolical, and constitutionally perverse scheme” within Ghana’s Parliament, following the referral of the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, to the Privileges Committee by Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin.
Addressing the press on Friday, November 28, 2025. Hon. Appiagyei said the action “is not parliamentary procedure. It is political persecution. It is not the enforcement of Standing Orders. It is the weaponisation of Standing Orders” and accused the Speaker and Majority Leader, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, of targeting the Minority Leader for performing his lawful duties (Statement, paras. 3–4).
ECOWAS delegation controversy
Hon. Appiagyei recounted the events of 22 July 2025, when the Majority Leader allegedly moved to amend Ghana’s ECOWAS Parliament delegation while the Minority Leader was unwell. “His aim was surgical and sinister: remove Hon. Afenyo-Markin and insert me in his place,” she stated.
She highlighted her immediate objection, saying, “I was neither consulted nor did I consent to this scheme… At no point have I expressed any intention to replace my Leader” (Statement, paras. 11–12).
Despite her protests, the Speaker proceeded to send a formal letter to the ECOWAS Parliament on 25 July 2025, excluding the Minority Leader and including her name, a move Hon. Appiagyei described as “not an administrative error. It was diplomatic orchestration” (Statement, para. 17).
The repercussions were swift. On 8 September 2025, the ECOWAS Parliament sent a diplomatic mission to Accra to address Ghana’s “flagrant violation” of Article 18 of the Supplementary Act, she said, adding that ECOWAS later rebuked Ghana for attempting to normalise the illegality (Statement, paras. 18–20).
Defending the rule of law
Hon. Appiagyei argued that the Minority Leader was constitutionally justified in refusing to comply with the unlawful resolution. Citing St. Augustine of Hippo, she said: “Lex iniusta non est lex” — an unjust law is no law at all.
She emphasised that under Articles 1, 3, and 41 of the 1992 Constitution, the Minority Leader “was not being insubordinate; he was being a patriot” (Statement, paras. 37–41).
She further stressed that the referral to the Privileges Committee was retaliation: “This is not parliamentary oversight. This is vindictive persecution… exactly one day after the Minority Leader led our side at the Appointments Committee to expose the NDC Government’s dishonourable attempt to secure parliamentary vetting for the then Chief Justice nominee” (Statement, para. 28).
Coordinated intimidation campaign
According to Hon. Appiagyei, the Minority Leader has faced a wider pattern of intimidation, including threats from NDC officials, attempts by the Attorney-General’s Office to discredit him, and social media campaigns branding him “insubordinate” (Statement, paras. 44–48).
Demands from the Minority
The Minority has, therefore, called for the immediate withdrawal of the Privileges Committee petition against the Minority Leader. They demanded a public apology from the Speaker and the Majority Leader to both ECOWAS and the people of Ghana for the diplomatic embarrassment caused.
The Caucus insisted that Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s name be restored to Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation and that the coordinated persecution by NDC operatives and the Attorney-General’s Office against him be brought to an end. Additionally, they called for the prosecution of NDC National Vice-Chairman Chief Sofo Azorka for publicly threatening the Minority Leader.
Hon. Appiagyei further declared that the NPP and the Minority stand firmly with Hon. Afenyo-Markin not because of party affiliation, but because the rule of law demands it, affirming, “We will defend him, we will defend Ghana’s democracy, and we will not rest until those who abuse their power are held to account.”
