Bernard Ahiafor and Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie
Drama erupted in Parliament on Tuesday evening when Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) rallied to defend their colleague, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, after the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, ordered his removal from the chamber.
The confrontation arose towards the end of the day’s proceedings when Dr. Afriyie sought permission to make a statement regarding the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The strike, which began on June 4, has severely affected healthcare delivery across the country and is reported to have contributed to some deaths as essential services remain unavailable.
Dr. Afriyie expressed deep concern over the worsening health crisis and called for an urgent statement on the matter.
He argued that the House could not adjourn without first addressing the nationwide health emergency. However, the First Deputy Speaker denied his request, ruling that Dr. Afriyie had not complied with the proper procedure to secure space for his statement on the floor.
Determined to have his concerns heard, Dr. Afriyie persisted, prompting the Deputy Speaker to instruct the Majority side to move for adjournment. The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, moved the motion for adjournment as requested.
But just before the motion could be seconded and adopted, Dr. Afriyie attempted to second it himself, using the opportunity to quickly introduce his statement about the nurses’ strike. His action infuriated Mr. Ahiafor, who viewed the move as an act of defiance.
In a swift response, the First Deputy Speaker ordered the Marshal of Parliament to remove Dr. Afriyie from the chamber. This directive, however, triggered strong resistance from Minority MPs, who immediately gathered around their colleague in solidarity, forming a human shield to prevent the Marshal from carrying out the order.
The standoff created a tense and chaotic scene in the House, forcing an abrupt end to the day’s proceedings. Despite the heated exchanges, Dr. Afriyie’s statement was not admitted for discussion.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House