The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, madam Patricia Appiagyei, has turned down her nomination to represent Ghana at the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a memorandum directed to the Speaker Alban Bagbin, she said the decision to include her was made without her knowledge or consent, and described it as a calculated attempt to replace the Minority Leader while creating division within the caucus.
This follows concerns raised by the Majority Leader in Parliament on Tuesday , July 22, 2025.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga argued that the ECOWAS Parliament was pushing for 30 percent female representation hence it was customary for deputy minority leaders to be part of the delegation.
He therefore suggested that madam Appiagyei replaces Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin in the newly reconstituted list.
This notwithstanding, madam Appiagyei, in a memo to the speaker, said she was not consulted and had never agreed to replace her leader.
The deputy minority leader revealed that she was surprised that such a proposal was made in her absence and that of the minority leader.
According to her, there had been a clear understanding that Afenyo-Markin would continue serving on the ECOWAS Parliament, and this had been communicated to the committee of selection.
She described the move as procedurally wrong and legally flawed.
Madam Appiagyei explained that Afenyo-Markin had been sworn in as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament and later elected Deputy Speaker.
She said under ECOWAS law, a member’s term lasts four years unless they resign, leave Parliament, or become ineligible.
Since none of those conditions apply, she believes there is no justification for his removal.
She added that replacing him without proper cause would breach ECOWAS statutes and Ghana’s parliamentary procedures.
While supporting the call for more women in regional bodies, she called for due process to be followed.
“Using gender parity as a reason for irregular decisions undermines both the goal and the integrity of Parliament,” she noted.
She officially declined the nomination and urged that her name be removed from the list sent to ECOWAS.
She also asked the Clerk of Parliament not to communicate any resolution that includes her name.
She called for the original list of nominees to be maintained to preserve unity in the house and avoid public embarrassment.
The original nominees include Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, and Bryan Acheampong.
By Jacob Aggrey
