Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Majority of deliberately marginalising the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority, claiming that motions and issues raised by the caucus on the floor are being ignored.
Speaking to the media on 11 March, the Effutu MP said several motions filed by the Minority have gone unattended for months, despite repeatedly appearing on the Order Paper. He argued that the Majority’s conduct reflects a worrying pattern in which numerical strength is used to limit the Minority’s ability to perform its parliamentary duties.
“This posture of the Majority, in my respectful view, is illustrative of a broader trend where numerical dominance can sometimes translate into disproportionate control over institutional representation,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.
He added that when agreed formulas for representation are set aside, the Minority loses the ability to contribute effectively, scrutinise government action, and present alternative perspectives on key national matters.
“One of the critical functions of Parliament is to allow members to raise matters of public importance, question government actions, and hold the Executive accountable through motions,” he said.
However, he noted that the Minority has faced persistent challenges in getting its motions debated.
“Some of the Minority’s motions, though formally advertised, have still not been taken up for debate in the House,” he explained.
He highlighted one motion concerning the mass dismissal of workers recruited into state institutions during the previous administration, which followed a directive reportedly issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff after the NPP left office.
“There was a letter from the Chief of Staff directing that recruitment after the election should be terminated. State agencies went back to 2017–2018 and sacked employees in state-owned institutions, not just the civil service,” he said.
Although the motion was eventually admitted, debate has stalled for months.
“The first challenge was a preliminary objection by the Majority Leader. When we filed an appeal, the motion was allowed, but the debate remains in abeyance. The motion was moved, seconded, and only one contributor has spoken. It has now been eight months. Despite repeatedly appearing on the Order Paper, we are unable to proceed,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also raised concerns over the composition of parliamentary delegations to international legislative bodies, claiming that an agreed formula for Minority representation has not been respected.
He said a committee under Article 103 of the Constitution and Order 204 of the Standing Orders had determined a 68:32 ratio for committee and delegation representation at the start of the Ninth Parliament to ensure both sides had meaningful participation.
“However, this formula was ignored when forming delegations to the Pan-African Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament,” he alleged.
“In the Pan-African Parliament, the Minority was denied one of its seats and told to take observer status. A similar situation occurred with the ECOWAS Parliament, where the Majority unilaterally amended our agreed proposal,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the impasse has affected the Minority’s participation in multiple delegations.
“The consequences have been unfortunate. On all delegations, the Minority has been sidelined because we have insisted on our rights. I pray this matter can be resolved,” he concluded.