The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that he will not sit aloof and allow the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, to attack others and go scot-free during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
He criticised Afenyo-Markin for making comments he described as personal attacks and remarks that impugn the character of others during his submissions.
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Ayariga made the remarks on Monday, November 10, 2025, during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, after Afenyo-Markin raised concerns about the vetting process despite pending legal suits filed against the nominee.
According to Ayariga, under Parliament’s Standing Orders, particularly Order 103(f), any matter before the courts should not be discussed in the Chamber.
He argued that the same rule applies during committee sittings if such discussions could influence the outcome of a case or appear biased.
“Our rules are very clear on pending matters, and Order 103(f) states that ‘a motion shall relate to definite issues and not be the subject of an action on which a judicial decision is pending in such a way as may, in the opinion of the Speaker, prejudice the interests of the parties to the action.’
“Mr. Speaker, when you keep saying ‘motion,’ these rules guide proceedings in the Chamber, but they apply to the work of committees as well. The rules are clear: what you can’t do in the Chamber, you cannot do in committees. So, you can’t come here and comment on pending matters in a way that will prejudice the interests of the parties. We even avoid referring to them,” Ayariga argued.
Ayariga acknowledged Afenyo-Markin’s legal background and his experience in parliamentary leadership, noting that he should be well-versed in the rules.
“You are a senior lawyer. You’ve been in this House; you’ve been a Majority Leader and a Minority Leader. You have lived through all the rulings on pending matters, we should stay away from them. The conduct of judges is not for discussion here,” he said.
Ayariga added that Afenyo-Markin had failed to raise legitimate procedural questions that could have been discussed, such as the nomination process and its referral to the committee by the Speaker.
“You have so far not challenged the process of nominating the nominee, submitting the nomination to this House, or the Speaker’s referral of the nominee to this Committee for vetting. Those are legitimate issues you could have raised, but you haven’t.”
“… You can’t just be allowed to run down everybody and walk away because you are Afenyo-Markin. Why? It will not be allowed. This whole issue about you making a preliminary statement, show me a rule in our Standing Orders that gives you, Afenyo-Markin, the right to make preliminary statements. You don’t,” he declared.
Ayariga accused his colleague of abusing the privilege of making opening remarks, turning it into a platform for attacks.
Afenyo-Markin's 'disputed Chief Justice nominee' comment triggers pushback at vetting
“We developed this as a practice where the two leaders may make brief welcoming or general opening remarks. But you have turned it into a press conference platform to attack and impugn people, then walk away unchallenged. I’m saying that today, you will not attack anybody and walk away while I sit in this committee,” Ayariga warned.
MAG/MA
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