Afenyo-Markin, Ahiafor resume verbal tug-of-war over parliamentary procedure

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor renewed tensions on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday over procedure and the handling of urgent statements.

The latest clash followed an earlier heated exchange in the House after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga criticised the Minority Leader for raising concerns over newly introduced wallet-to-bank transfer charges.

Rising on the floor after proceedings resumed, Afenyo-Markin defended his decision to raise the issue, insisting that Parliament could invoke necessity and prudence in dealing with urgent national matters.

“This side of the House concedes to the fact that this House operates with rules and must operate within its rules,” he stated.

“We operate a governance architecture which also has within it the rule of necessity. The rule of necessity and prudence can both be invoked and these provisions, when they are invoked, they supersede procedure,” he added.

The Minority Leader maintained that the issue directly affected ordinary Ghanaians following public announcements about a 0.75 per cent charge on transfers from bank accounts into mobile money wallets.

“What I said must not be looked at in its form but the substance. We have a state institution that has made a public announcement to the effect that certain charges are being levied on the ordinary Ghanaian,” he argued.

However, Bernard Ahiafor interrupted him and directed him to take his seat while stressing that parliamentary business must strictly comply with laid down rules.

“Honourable Minority Leader, kindly resume your seat,” Ahiafor ruled.

The First Deputy Speaker explained that he had not been informed beforehand about the statement and therefore could not permit it to proceed under parliamentary procedure.

“I took the time to read the rules copiously and I think the House agreed with me that we need to operate within the rules,” he said.

“He never mentioned it to me that he has a statement of this nature. It is urgent. Therefore, he needs my leave to make such a statement. I’m completely not aware of it,” Ahiafor added.

He subsequently ordered that all comments made by the Minority Leader on the matter be removed from the official parliamentary records.

“Everything said by Minority Leader on his feet is ordered to be expunged from the record. Let’s make progress,” the presiding Speaker directed.