Defeamekpor, Dompreh, Zanetor sworn into Pan African Parliament

Three Members of Ghana’s Parliament have been sworn in today, Wednesday, 30th July, as Members of the 6th Session of the Pan African Parliament in Durban, South Africa.

They are the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor; the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh; and Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings.

The delegation was accompanied by Inusah Mohammed and Edith Adjei as Schedule and Assistant Schedule Officers of the Parliament of Ghana, respectively.

Three Members of Ghana’s Parliament have been sworn in today, Wednesday, 30th July, as Members of the 6th Session of the Pan African Parliament in Durban, South Africa.

They are the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor; the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh; and Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings.

The delegation was accompanied by Inusah Mohammed and Edith Adjei as Schedule and Assistant Schedule Officers of the Parliament of Ghana, respectively.

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is the legislative body of the African Union. Established in 2004, it aims to facilitate popular participation and representation of African peoples in the AU’s decision-making processes. While currently holding advisory and consultative powers, the PAP’s ultimate goal is to evolve into a legislative body with full powers.

Meanwhile, Okaikwei Central MP, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has withdrawn a day after being listed as an observer.

The delegation, adopted by the House on 22nd July 2025, includes Bernard Ahiafor as leader, with Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Collins Dauda, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and Frank Annoh-Dompreh as members. Boamah was assigned as an observer, a non-participatory role that allows attendance at sessions without the right to vote or contribute to deliberations.

In a statement dated 23rd July, Boamah informed the Speaker of Parliament of his decision to withdraw. He explained that after consulting the Pan-African Parliament Secretariat, it became clear that observers are not allowed to speak during plenary or take part in committee work. He described the role as ineffective and said accepting it could lead to embarrassment for both Parliament and the country.

“I humbly withdraw from the delegation as an observer to avoid any potential embarrassment to the Parliament of Ghana and Ghanaians as a whole,” Boamah wrote.

He also raised concerns about the fairness of the selection process. Citing Parliament’s 68:32 formula for allocating committee and delegation slots between the Majority and Minority sides, Boamah argued that the Minority should have received two full member positions. He pointed to Ghana’s ECOWAS Parliament delegation, where the formula was respected, as a precedent.