Mr Alban K. S. Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, on Thursday referred Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, to Parliament’s Privileges and Immunities Committee over alleged contempt of Parliament.
The Speaker directed the Committee to investigate the matter with fairness and make recommendations to the House.
The complaint, brought by Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, alleged that Mr Afenyo-Markin attended a session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, despite a resolution of the House, excluding his name from the delegation.
“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 Once adopted, the resolution becomes a binding decision of the house until it is rescinded, suspended, or varied by order,” the Speaker said through a formal communication on the Floor of the House.
The Speaker ruled that the facts alleged, if proven, may amount to a breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt of Parliament.
“The allegation against Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin falls within the category of contempt, as it involves non-compliance with a resolution of Parliament,” the Speaker said.
He also advised the witness to refrain from public commentary on the matter to maintain the dignity and unity of the House.
On Tuesday, November 11, Mr Ayariga, the Majority Leader, formally lodged a complaint with the Speaker of Parliament against Mr Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, accusing him of acts of alleged contempt of Parliament and breach of parliamentary privilege.
While giving the basis of his complaint, Mr Ayariga, who is the Leader of Government Business, explained that on July 22, 2025, the Parliament of Ghana passed a resolution, constituting Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, explicitly removing Mr Afenyo-Markin’s name from the list.
He said the resolution was communicated to the ECOWAS Parliament.
However, Mr Ayariga said, during the ECOWAS Parliament session held at Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from September 25–28, 2025, members of Ghana’s delegation encountered Mr Afenyo-Markin seated among them despite his earlier removal.
His presence reportedly caused ECOWAS Parliament to initially refuse to swear in the Ghanaian delegation, Mr Ayariga stated.
Mr Ayariga, also the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, recounted that he had to personally intervene and threatened Ghana’s withdrawal from ECOWAS before the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament eventually swore in the four members from Ghana’s Parliament.
