The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament Patricia Appiagyei has formally petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to reject her inclusion in Ghana’s reconstituted delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, citing procedural and legal concerns.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, the Deputy Minority Leader expressed her objection to being considered as a replacement for the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, without prior consultation or her consent. She emphasized that there was an understanding among leadership that the Minority Leader would represent Ghana in the ECOWAS Parliament, as communicated to the Committee of Selection.
The statement is likely to raise concerns over the legality of the recent development, highlighting that Afenyo-Markin, who was sworn in last year and elected Deputy Speaker, remains a valid member of the ECOWAS Parliament. The Deputy Minority Leader argued that any attempt to replace him violates both parliamentary procedures and ECOWAS statutes, which stipulate that a member’s tenure is co-terminous with their parliamentary term.
The controversy underscores procedural disagreements within Parliament regarding Ghana’s representation at the ECOWAS Parliament and raises questions about internal compliance with established protocols.
She said, “I respectfully write to express my objection and hereby decline to be included in the reconstituted list of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament as adopted on the floor of the House today – an action that was taken in the absence of my good self and the Minority Leade”r.
“Respectfully, I wish to place on record that I was neither consulted nor did I give my consent to be considered as a replacement for the Minority Leader, Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, on the ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation. At no point have I expressed any intention to replace my Leader, and I am particularly concerned that this development appears to be a calculated effort to cause division between myself and my Leader”.
Madam Patricia mentioned the fact that, “prior to today’s proceedings, there was an understanding by leadership that the Minority Leader would be on the ECOWAS Parliament delegation, as was communicated to the Committee of Selection. It is therefore deeply troubling that a contrary nomination was advanced on the floor without consultation and even more so that proposal was made by the Majority Leader. Mr Speaker, beyond the procedural impropriety, this action also contravenes the legal and institutional framework governing the ECOWAS Parliament”.
Below is her memo:
