Parliament Reinstates Afenyo-Markin to Ghana's ECOWAS Parliament Delegation

Ghana's Parliament has approved a motion to reconstitute the country's delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament. The decision clears the way for Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to return as a member, as first reported by Citi News.

The motion follows a decision by Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei to turn down her nomination as Mr Afenyo-Markin's replacement on the delegation.

According to the report, she rejected the nomination over concerns that there had been no consultation. She also cited alleged procedural irregularities in how the selection was made.

The dispute had earlier led the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to refer Mr Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee.

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The referral followed a petition from Mahama Ayariga, described by Citi News as the former Majority Leader. Mr Ayariga accused the Minority Leader of defying a parliamentary resolution that had removed him from Ghana's ECOWAS delegation.

Reports cited by Citi News indicate that the ECOWAS Parliament declined to swear in the reconstituted Ghanaian delegation. This followed an appearance by Mr Afenyo-Markin at proceedings in Port Harcourt, even though he had been replaced.

Mr Afenyo-Markin currently serves as Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

According to the report, the standoff was eventually settled after Ghana threatened to pull out of the regional legislative body altogether.

Under the newly adopted motion, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan is named as leader of Ghana's representation to the Community Parliament of ECOWAS.

Others named include Laadi Ayii Ayamba and Mr Afenyo-Markin as members, and Millicent Yeboah Amankwah as an observer.