The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, of contempt of Parliament and is calling for his referral to the Privileges Committee for disciplinary action.
The allegation stems from Afenyo-Markin’s alleged participation in the ECOWAS Parliament session held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from September 25 to 28, 2025, despite his official removal from Ghana’s delegation to the regional body.
Raising the matter on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Ayariga invoked Order 31(O) of the Standing Orders, which defines contempt as any act or omission that affronts the dignity or authority of Parliament or brings its name into disrepute.
According to him, the Minority Leader’s attendance at the session, despite being excluded, amounted to “a clear affront to the authority of Parliament.”
Ayariga recalled that Parliament had, on July 22, 2025, passed a resolution confirming Ghana’s representation to the ECOWAS Parliament, which specifically excluded Afenyo-Markin. The decision, he said, was duly communicated to the ECOWAS Secretariat.
“When our delegation arrived in Port Harcourt, they found Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin already seated and refusing to vacate his position as directed by this Parliament,” the Majority Leader stated.
He added that the situation initially caused ECOWAS to delay the swearing-in of Ghana’s delegation until the matter was resolved.
Ayariga maintained that the Minority Leader’s conduct undermined the authority and integrity of the Ghanaian Parliament.
“Any act that affronts the authority of Parliament or tends to bring its name into disrepute constitutes contempt. It is time the Honourable Afenyo-Markin is put in his proper place,” he asserted.
He therefore urged Speaker Alban Bagbin to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for investigation and possible sanctions.
“I rise to make a formal complaint of contempt of Parliament and breach of privilege, and urge you, Speaker, to refer Honourable Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee for necessary action,” Ayariga concluded.
