Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has strongly condemned Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to adjourn Parliament indefinitely, calling it an act that “amounts to supervising chaos” and a threat to Ghana’s democratic integrity.
Bagbin’s adjournment of the House on Thursday, November 7, stemmed from a lack of parliamentary business, which resulted from the absence of New Patriotic Party (NPP) members. Afenyo-Markin expressed frustration, clarifying that the NPP caucus’ absence was due not to negligence, but to a procedural issue—specifically, the failure of the Clerk of Parliament to print the necessary Order Paper, which outlines the agenda items for the session.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the absence of the Order Paper rendered the NPP unable to participate in parliamentary proceedings. He stressed that this administrative lapse should not be seen as a disregard for parliamentary duties by the NPP but as a critical oversight that hindered their engagement.
“What Mr. Speaker did today amounts to supervising chaos and tarnishes the image of our democracy. The NDC minority members falsely claimed that the Majority skipped a so-called Business Committee meeting they convened,” Afenyo-Markin said. “I chair the Business Committee, and when the Clerk of Parliament requested the meeting, I stated clearly that the subject of the recall was the matter already up for consideration, so another committee meeting was unnecessary.”
He emphasized that the Business Committee determines the agenda of the House, and, in this instance, the agreed items had already been set for discussion. “I directed that the Order Paper be printed to include all approved items, which would have allowed proceedings to go forward,” Afenyo-Markin added.