Afenyo-Markin removed from Ecowas parliament, minority criticize reshuffle

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, has been removed as the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament following a recent reshuffle of Ghana’s delegation to the regional legislative body.

The reconstitution, sanctioned by the Parliament of Ghana, sees Deputy Majority Leader George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan and Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei taking over as Ghana’s representatives in the ECOWAS Parliament. Ricketts-Hagan steps into the role previously held by Afenyo-Markin.

The reshuffle has drawn sharp criticism from some Members of Parliament, particularly Dominic Nitiwul, the MP for Bimbilla. He accused the Majority Caucus of acting unilaterally without due consultation with the Minority side.

“I know it is the decision of the House to do it, but it is not for Parliament—because the Majority has the majority—to force the decision of the Majority on the Minority about representation,” Nitiwul said.

In defense of the decision, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga argued that the move aligns with parliamentary tradition, which typically assigns ECOWAS parliamentary responsibilities to the Deputy Leaders of the House.

The development has sparked renewed debate over representation, consensus, and the exercise of majority power in Ghana’s Parliament.