Former Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, now serving as the Minority Leader, surprised many viewers and listeners during a live interview on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
The incident occurred when he insisted that the journalist introduce him using his former title of Majority Leader before he would proceed with the interview.
This surprising request came on the same day the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament, who had been the Majority Caucus in Ghana’s 8th Parliament, officially transitioned to the Minority side. The change followed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, altering the political composition of the House and consequently affecting the titles of the leadership.
The decision to declare these seats vacant stemmed from Article 97 [1(g) & (h)] of the 1992 Constitution. This article stipulates that a Member of Parliament must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or seek to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate after having initially been elected as a party member or vice versa.
This move, led by NDC MP Haruna Iddrisu, was in response to MPs from the NPP filing nominations to contest the 2024 election as independent candidates, while another independent MP filed to run on the NPP’s ticket.
Afenyo-Markin, whose Effutu seat was not part of those declared vacant, expressed frustration during the interview on Joy FM and JoyNews for not being referred to by his previous title. He explained that he had already filed an injunction at the Supreme Court to challenge the Speaker’s declaration of the seats as vacant and was displeased by the lack of recognition of his former role.
The unexpected nature of the leadership change and Afenyo-Markin’s reaction underscored the tensions within Parliament on that day.
“… Let me hear how you introduce me again.”
The journalist responded, “Okay, so we have Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu, on the line.”
The MP, obviously not happy, responded: “You either do the right thing or I just go off.”
The journalist then quickly addresses him again.
“Okay, so I have the Majority Leader on the line, Alexander Afenyo-Markin; is that okay?” the journalist asked.
The MP then retorted, “Young man, how do you do your journalism? You will introduce someone properly. You don’t make these things for me to remind you and all that. What do you gain from it? Is it okay for us to have a banter?”
The journalist responded, “No, no. I only said I have the Majority Leader.” The MP swiftly interjected, saying, “You started with I have Alexander Afenyo-Markin, then you said MP for Effutu, then I had to remind you. Please, let’s do the right thing. Is that okay? So, do the right thing and let’s proceed.” The journalist then said, “Okay, please forgive me. So, let me bring in Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.”
A now satisfied Afenyo-Markin then responded, “Yes, sir, good evening to you; thanks for having me.”