Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin of engaging in "parliamentary bullying" following the removal of Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, from the Chamber. According to Afenyo-Markin, the Speaker's decision to maintain the directive for Mr. Jinapor to leave the Chamber, despite withdrawing allegations made on the Floor, was disproportionate and humiliating. This incident occurred on November 4, 2026, when Afenyo-Markin read a statement on behalf of the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
The controversy began when Mr. Jinapor, also the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, raised allegations concerning the alleged sale of diplomatic passports for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000. He sought answers from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but the Speaker directed him to withdraw the allegations. Mr. Jinapor sought clarification before expressly withdrawing the allegations twice; however, the directive for him to leave the Chamber was maintained. This led to the Minority Caucus staging a walkout in solidarity with him.
Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the Speaker's responsibility to maintain order in the House and ensure that allegations made by MPs were properly substantiated. However, he insisted that such authority must be exercised with restraint, fairness, and impartiality. The Minority Leader emphasized that a member's request for clarification did not amount to defiance and that Mr. Jinapor's withdrawal should have been acknowledged rather than followed by his removal.
Beyond the incident, Afenyo-Markin stated that the substantive allegations surrounding the procurement and alleged sale of diplomatic and service passports required investigation. The Minority claimed to have supporting material that raised concerns about alleged false representations and impersonation in the procurement of such passports through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They alleged that the practices could have developed into an illicit trade and insisted that the claims were serious enough to warrant parliamentary scrutiny.
The Minority called for the material to be examined and its authenticity tested, while allowing all persons implicated to respond fairly. They also demanded that the Speaker reconsider the treatment of Mr. Jinapor, that the supporting material be admitted through the appropriate parliamentary procedures, and that the Foreign Affairs Minister be required to appear before Parliament to respond to the allegations. Afenyo-Markin cited Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament, arguing that parliamentary committees had the constitutional responsibility to investigate the activities of ministries and government departments.
Afenyo-Markin also criticized what he described as the potential use of the government's overwhelming parliamentary majority to intimidate the Minority and suppress accountability. He noted that the governing side commanded more than two-thirds of Parliament, arguing that such numerical strength imposed an even greater responsibility to protect the rights of the Minority. The Minority Leader warned against frustrating the Minority's responsibility to scrutinize government activities, cautioning that when executive dominance was reinforced by overwhelming parliamentary numbers, the danger of "elective dictatorship" could emerge.
The Minority Leader further alleged that members of the Minority had faced arrest, detention, and onerous bail conditions since assuming their roles in opposition, raising concerns about the potential abuse of state institutions for political purposes. The Minority, however, maintained that it supported lawful accountability for all citizens but would resist any attempt to use state power to intimidate political opponents. They reaffirmed their commitment to defending constitutional democracy, parliamentary accountability, and the rights of elected representatives to scrutinise government activities.
Key points
- The Minority Leader accused Speaker Alban Bagbin of parliamentary bullying.
- The incident involved the removal of MP Samuel Abu Jinapor from Parliament.
- The Minority Caucus demanded an investigation into the alleged sale of diplomatic passports.
