The Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised strong concerns over what he describes as the exclusion of the Minority caucus from Ghana’s delegations to both the Pan-African Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament.
According to him, the current composition of the delegations violates the long-standing formula used by Parliament to ensure fair representation between the Majority and Minority caucuses.
Speaking at the 9th edition of the Crystal Ball Series, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority’s rightful representation in the two continental parliamentary bodies had been reduced unfairly, describing the situation as unacceptable.
He explained that the established practice gives the Minority caucus two seats in Ghana’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament. However, he said the caucus has been allocated only one seat under the current arrangement.
“The Minority has two bona fide seats at the Pan-African Parliament. Instead of having two, strangely we are denied and only one was given to us,” he stated.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further alleged that the Minority had been advised to accept an observer status in place of its rightful representation, a proposal he said undermines parliamentary fairness and established conventions.
The Effutu Member of Parliament argued that representation in international parliamentary bodies must reflect the balance of power in Ghana’s Parliament to ensure that the views of both sides of the House are properly represented.
He warned that sidelining the Minority in such important delegations could weaken Ghana’s democratic image and limit the diversity of perspectives presented at international parliamentary engagements.
The Minority Leader therefore called for an urgent review of the current arrangement to restore the Minority’s full representation in both the Pan-African and ECOWAS Parliaments.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasised that parliamentary delegations are not merely ceremonial but play a critical role in shaping regional policies, strengthening diplomatic relations and representing Ghana’s democratic governance on the continental and sub-regional stage.
He urged the leadership of Parliament to address the matter quickly to ensure fairness, transparency and respect for parliamentary conventions.
