I cannot be Minority Leader- Afenyo-Markin

Alexander Afenyo-Markin has categorically stated that he won’t take the position of Minority Leader, a situation that has left parliament dysfunctional for weeks. Afenyo-Markin made the statement when he addressed the media after court today, Monday, November 11, 2024.

The Supreme Court was scheduled to make a ruling on the current impasse in Parliament which has now threatened to tilt the balance of power between the Judiciary and Legislature. Afenyo-Markin dragged the Speaker to the Supreme Court after Alban Bagbin declared four seats vacant which effectively tilted the numbers in the house and made the NDC the Majority.

According to Effutu MP, Alban Bagbin told the Council of State that he did not make a ruling and that the NDC will move back to the Minority side of the house. He said if the Speaker acknowledges this then he needs to act on it so the house can continue to function.

“The council of state reached out to me again that they have spoken to Mr Speaker, and he concedes that he has not made a ruling and that the NDC will move to their own seat; he gave them that assurance. The council of state communicated that to us and if in all this Mr Speaker decides to [not comply], what should I do?”

He said he will not sit on the Minority seat because it is not spiritually good especially with just about 3 weeks to the December general election.

“I should go and sit in the Minority seat? Spiritually it is not even good. You have three weeks to election. I should go and sit on the minority side. Is that my seat? I will not go and sit there. I will never do it. That is not my rightful place.”

According to him, if he sits on the Minority seat he will confirm his status as a Minority Leader spiritually and that would also make his colleagues Minority MPs. As a result, he insisted that he will never sit on the Minority side.

“I should go to the Minority side, spiritually make myself a Minority person and bind my colleagues? We will not do that. No NPP person will do that,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on the case on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.