Majority leader bashes Afenyo-Markin as Parliament resumes sitting

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s remarks on the floor of Parliament were ordered expunged on Tuesday after a heated exchange with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.

The tension erupted shortly after Parliament resumed sitting, when Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned the government over the reintroduction of charges on wallet-to-bank transfers.

Addressing the House, Afenyo-Markin said, “If the Finance Minister may recall, his government decided to repeal the e-levy law and now Bank of Ghana is introducing the e-levy again.”

His comments drew an immediate reaction from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who rose after being recognized by First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor.

Mr. Ayariga strongly objected to the Minority Leader’s conduct and requested that the statements be struck from the parliamentary record.

“Mr. Speaker I request that everything he has said be expunged from the records. Mr. Speaker, this kind of lawlessness cannot be accepted. Not especially from a leader. Please, please, let’s get serious,” he said.

The Majority Leader argued that Parliament risked descending into disorder if members were allowed to raise issues outside the accepted procedures of the House.

“For those of you who have been in this House for some time now, after votes and proceedings, is the first thing to get up and be asking questions to the Finance Minister? Is that the first thing to do?” he questioned.

He added that the Finance Minister had even sought his permission to respond to the Minority Leader, but he declined because he believed the approach violated parliamentary practice.

Getting personal with his submission, he questioned the Minority Leader’s capacity to speak on the matter.

“Please you are the Minority Leader. That is not how to behave in this House. Please let’s stop that. You get up and whatever you want to say you just say it. That you are who?”

The remarks sparked reactions across the chamber while the sitting briefly grew tense.

Presiding over proceedings, Bernard Ahiafor ruled in favour of the Majority Leader and directed that the Minority Leader’s comments be expunged from the official parliamentary records.