Chaos in Parliament: Afenyo-Markin ‘exposes’ Bagbin over betrayal

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin recently voiced a profound sense of betrayal, shedding light on a growing rift within Ghana’s Parliament.

During an open and heartfelt interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show, Afenyo-Markin revealed his frustrations with Speaker Alban Bagbin, whom he accused of not honoring assurances amid a spiralling political crisis. His words painted a vivid picture of the tension and distrust simmering within the legislative body.

For Afenyo-Markin, the roots of this dispute lie in a petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu, a senior figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging Speaker Bagbin to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. The MPs in question had opted to run as independents in the next elections, a move the NDC saw as grounds for removal. “I did not want to go public with these issues,” Afenyo-Markin said, sounding reluctant but resolute. “But there’s a point where silence does more harm than good, and the people of Ghana deserve to know what is happening behind the scenes.”

He recounted the moment he and Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako realized the seriousness of Haruna’s petition. They feared that if Speaker Bagbin backed it, Parliament could face an unprecedented crisis, potentially destabilizing parliamentary balance and representation. Acting on his concerns, Afenyo-Markin approached the Speaker, cautioning him on the possible repercussions if Haruna’s request were granted. Bagbin, he claimed, assured him there would be no endorsement of the petition, a promise Afenyo-Markin clung to as a sign that Bagbin would remain neutral and prioritize Parliament’s stability.

However, Afenyo-Markin was soon left feeling deceived. Bagbin’s stance appeared to waver, and Afenyo-Markin, who had believed he could rely on the Speaker’s commitment, felt a deep sense of betrayal. “I trusted him,” he said in the interview, frustration evident in his tone. “We spoke about it, and he gave me his word. He knew the risks, he knew what was at stake, and still, here we are.”

Disappointed but determined, Afenyo-Markin saw no option but to take the matter to the Supreme Court, hoping a judicial ruling might clarify the boundaries between party loyalty and independence. “If I let it go, the NDC would only escalate their demands,” he explained. “Taking this matter to the Supreme Court was about protecting Parliament’s integrity.”

He underscored that Bagbin had been fully informed of his plan to seek legal interpretation, yet the Speaker’s apparent shift in position left him feeling adrift.