The Minority in Parliament is demanding, among others, the withdrawal of the decision by the Speaker to refer Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Committee of Privileges and Immunities.
On Thursday, November 27, Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin had referred the Minority Leader to the Committee for defying a resolution passed by the House in travelling to Port Harcourt as part of Ghana’s delegation the ECOWAS Parliament.
The matter had been brought up by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga on Tuesday, November 11 following an embarrassing moment involving members of Ghana’s delegation for a swearing-in ceremony.
However, addressing the press on Friday, November 28, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei indicated she had voluntarily offered her place to Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
She said the Speaker refused, causing the confusion and “international embarrassment”.
“We in the Minority demand the following:
“The immediate withdrawal of the Privileges Committee’s petition. It is gross abuse of process and an affront to justice.
“A public apology from the Speaker and Majority Leader to ECOWAS and to the people of Ghana for the international embarrassment they caused.
“The passage of a resolution restoring Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s name to Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation and affirming Ghana’s commitment to the rule of law under Article 5 of the Constitution.
“An end to the coordinated persecution of the Minority Leader by the Attorney General’s Office, NDC operatives an party foot soldiers.
“And finally the prosecution of Chief Sofo Azorka for his public threat of violence against the Minority Leader.”