Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of showing contempt toward Parliament and has called for him to face the Privileges Committee for disciplinary action.

The accusation follows Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s participation in the ECOWAS Parliament session held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from September 25 to 28, 2025, despite being officially removed from Ghana’s delegation to the regional assembly.

Raising the matter on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Mr. Ayariga cited Order 31(O) of the Standing Orders, which describes contempt as any act that “affronts the dignity or authority of Parliament or brings its name into disrepute.”

According to the Majority Leader, Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s decision to attend the session in defiance of Parliament’s resolution amounted to an open disregard for the institution’s authority.

“By attending the session after being excluded, the Minority Leader has clearly affronted the authority of Parliament and must be held accountable,” he said.

Mr. Ayariga recalled that on July 22, 2025, Parliament passed a resolution confirming Ghana’s representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament, explicitly excluding Mr. Afenyo-Markin. The decision, he said, was formally communicated to ECOWAS before the Port Harcourt meeting.

“When our delegation arrived, they found Honourable Afenyo-Markin already seated and refusing to step aside as instructed by this House,” Mr. Ayariga recounted. “His action initially caused ECOWAS to delay swearing in Ghana’s delegation until the matter was clarified.”

He added that the Minority Leader’s actions not only violated the authority of Parliament but also risked embarrassing the country on an international platform.

“Any act that undermines Parliament or brings its name into disrepute is contempt. It’s time the Honourable Afenyo-Markin is put in his proper place,” Mr. Ayariga stressed.

He therefore urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for investigation and sanctions.

“I make a formal complaint of contempt of Parliament and breach of privilege, and request that Honourable Afenyo-Markin be referred to the Privileges Committee for necessary action,” he declared.

The Speaker acknowledged receipt of the complaint and announced that he would make a ruling on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after reviewing the submissions.