Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says there is a deliberate attempt to silence the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in the House by delaying or sidelining motions filed by the caucus for debate.
According to him, several motions submitted by the Minority have remained pending for months despite repeatedly appearing on the Order Paper, raising concerns about whether the caucus is being given fair opportunity to raise matters of national importance and hold the government accountable.
Speaking at the Citizen Bureau programme in Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin cited a motion seeking a parliamentary probe into the dismissal of individuals employed under the previous NPP administration as a key example.
The motion, he said, had remained unresolved for about eight months, even though it was formally moved and seconded on the floor of Parliament.
The Minority Leader argued that the situation undermines the constitutional role of Parliament in ensuring accountability and enabling minority voices to be heard in legislative proceedings.
“Attempts to bring this matter to the public space remain frustrated,” he stated, explaining that the motion was initially met with a preliminary objection from the Majority side.
He said that although the Minority subsequently filed an appeal which was allowed, the debate on the motion has still not progressed.
“The motion was moved, seconded and one contributor was taken. The debate has been pending for eight months. It always appears on the Order Paper but we are unable to take it,” he lamented.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also raised concerns about what he described as unfair treatment of the Minority in the allocation of representation to regional parliamentary bodies.
He cited the case of Ghana’s representation at the Pan-African Parliament, where he alleged the Minority was denied one of the two seats it expected under an agreed formula and instead offered observer status.
He further alleged that a similar situation occurred during discussions on representation to the ECOWAS Parliament, where he said the Majority introduced amendments without prior notice, despite earlier agreements reached at the Committee on Selection.
According to him, the cumulative effect of these developments is the exclusion of the Minority from several parliamentary delegations.
“As we speak, on all delegations, the Minority has been denied because we have insisted on our rights,” he said, expressing hope that the impasse would be resolved through dialogue.
However, the Majority has rejected the allegations, insisting that responsibility for pursuing private members’ motions rests with the sponsors themselves.
Responding to the claims, Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, said it was the duty of the sponsor of a motion to ensure that the debate continues once it has been moved and seconded.
“If you neglect your duty, it is not my duty to ensure that your private business is done,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor maintained that the motion cited by the Minority Leader remains active on the Order Paper and can proceed if its sponsor pushes for the debate to continue.
He also accused the Minority Leader of previously obstructing parliamentary business, recalling an incident on December 9, 2025, when the Minority allegedly prevented the House from proceeding with several committee reports related to the passage of the national budget.
Despite the disagreements, the Majority Chief Whip said Parliament had largely conducted its business through consensus and cooperation, even in periods when the House was evenly divided.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House