Afenyo-Markin reinstated to Ghana’s delegation to ECOWAS Parliament

Parliament has adopted a motion to reconstitute Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, paving the way for the reinstatement of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin as a member of the regional legislative body.

The decision follows the rejection of a nomination by Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, who had been selected to replace Afenyo-Markin. She reportedly declined the appointment over concerns about the lack of consultation and alleged procedural irregularities in the selection process.

The reconstitution is expected to resolve the disagreement surrounding Ghana’s representation in the ECOWAS Parliament, which had created uncertainty over the country’s participation in the regional legislative body.

The controversy followed a parliamentary decision to remove Afenyo-Markin from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin subsequently referred the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee following a petition by former Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.

Ayariga accused Afenyo-Markin of defying a parliamentary resolution that removed him from the delegation.

The dispute also extended to the regional parliament, where reports indicated that the ECOWAS Parliament declined to swear in Ghana’s reconstituted delegation after Afenyo-Markin appeared at proceedings in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, despite having been replaced.

Afenyo-Markin currently serves as the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The matter was eventually resolved after Ghana reportedly threatened to withdraw entirely from the regional legislative body.

Following Parliament’s adoption of the motion, Ghana’s reconstituted representation to the Community Parliament of ECOWAS comprises the following members:

1. George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan – Leader

2. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah – Member

3. Laadi Ayii Ayamba – Member

4. Eric Afful – Member

5. Dominic Napare – Member

6. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin – Member

7. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi – Member

8. Bryan Acheampong – Member

9. Millicent Yeboah Amankwah – Observer

Afenyo-Markin’s inclusion in the reconstituted delegation marks a significant development in the dispute over Ghana’s representation at the ECOWAS Parliament.

The adoption of the motion is expected to provide a basis for restoring the delegation’s participation in the regional legislature and resolving the institutional disagreement that had surrounded its composition.