The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban K. S. Bagbin, has referred the Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, to Parliament’s Privileges and Immunities Committee for investigation over alleged contempt of Parliament and breach of parliamentary privilege.
The Speaker directed the Committee to probe the matter with fairness and submit its recommendations to the House.
The referral followed a formal complaint by the Majority Leader, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who alleged that Mr Afenyo-Markin attended a session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, contrary to a resolution of the House that had excluded his name from Ghana’s delegation.
Communicating the decision on the Floor of the House, Mr Bagbin said a resolution of Parliament represented the collective will of the House and remained binding unless rescinded, suspended, or amended.
“The resolution of Parliament is a formal act expressing the collective will of the House on a matter properly before it. Once adopted, the resolution becomes a binding decision of the House until it is rescinded, suspended, or varied by order,” the Speaker stated.
He ruled that the allegations, if established, could amount to contempt of Parliament and a breach of parliamentary privilege.
“The allegation against Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin falls within the category of contempt, as it involves non-compliance with a resolution of Parliament,” Mr Bagbin said.
The Speaker also cautioned all parties, especially the witness, to refrain from public commentary on the matter in order to preserve the dignity and unity of the House.
Mr Ayariga, the Leader of Government Business, filed the complaint on Tuesday, November 11, and explained that on July 22, 2025, Parliament passed a resolution constituting Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, from which Mr Afenyo-Markin’s name was expressly removed.
He said the decision was duly communicated to the ECOWAS Parliament.
However, according to the Majority Leader, during the ECOWAS Parliament session held in Port Harcourt from September 25 to 28, 2025, Mr Afenyo-Markin was found seated among members of Ghana’s delegation despite his exclusion.
Mr Ayariga said the incident reportedly led to an initial refusal by the ECOWAS Parliament to swear in Ghana’s delegation.
He added that he had to intervene personally and warned of Ghana’s possible withdrawal from the ECOWAS Parliament before the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament eventually administered the oath to the four Ghanaian representatives.
