![Emmanuel Bedzrah [L] and Alexander Afenyo-Markin](https://cdn.ghanaweb.com/imagelib/pics/247/24729675.295.jpg "Emmanuel Bedzrah [L] and Alexander Afenyo-Markin")
Emmanuel Bedzrah [L] and Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on Friday, March 7, 2025, took the opportunity on the floor of the House to educate the MP for Ho West on fashion styles and designer wear.
This occurred after the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, questioned his attire, labeling it improper and unacceptable by parliamentary standards.
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to draw your attention to the fact that the Minority Leader is improperly dressed. This is not parliamentary; this is unparliamentary. Mr. Speaker, you must ask him to go back and dress properly before appearing on the floor of the House,” he stated.
However, Afenyo-Markin, a lawyer by profession with a keen sense of fashion, did not let the comment slide. He stood to correct the wrong impression created by the MP.
When he caught the Speaker’s eye, he proceeded to educate the lawmaker and others who may have shared the same opinion.
“…To end it, he now goes further to talk about my dressing. With respect, this is a Guayabera. When we were young, they called it a gentleman’s wear. Sometimes, we should not let ignorance lead us to make uninformed statements. How do you expect the Hansard to capture that a Guayabera shirt constitutes improper dressing and is not parliamentary?”
He continued, “The last time someone attempted to say that a Guayabera is pajamas, Mr. Speaker corrected that person. This is a gentleman’s shirt—very unique. So, Mr. Speaker, to gloss over it would mean that the Chair is indirectly endorsing what he has said.”
Members of Parliament are required to dress formally and in a manner befitting the dignity of the House. MPs found to be improperly dressed would be ordered out of the chamber by the Speaker.
Afenyo-Markin speaks about his ‘gentleman shirt.’#GraphicOnline pic.twitter.com/VmWO790rGQ
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) March 7, 2025
KA
Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below:
