The minority in parliament led by Alexander Afenyo Markin has resisted intimation in parliament during the debate on President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The confusion started when the Majority proposed a rule for the debate, where for every three MPs from the Majority side who spoke, one MP from the Minority side would be allowed to speak.
Afenyo-Markin argued that both sides of the House should be afforded equal opportunities, a principle that has traditionally been upheld in parliamentary proceedings.
In a viral video shared on Tiktok Afenyo stated, “No, no we will not allow this, what is going on here, what is going on in this chamber, no, what is going on in this chamber, it will not happen, let all rise, why? Yes, I am aware my mic is on, what is going on in this chamber, what kind of democracy, it has never happened in the history of Ghana’s politics”.
He later emphasized that it has never occurred in the history of Parliament for the Majority to have more speakers than the Minority, and he vowed not to allow such an imbalance.
He also reminded the Majority that they would not hold their position forever and should not use their current power to intimidate the Minority.
“Equal opportunity, Mr. Speaker is guaranteed. Mr Speaker, we will not, Mr. Speaker we will not, I repeat we will not accept, allow the majority to use its numbers to intimidate us.”
Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment in the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, for sitting in Parliament and supporting the Majority’s proposal. “Mr. Speaker they should know that we are not going to be in this minority forever. Today, the Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu is in this house and his side is proposing this. Eeei Haruna..eei Haruna,” he exclaimed.
“Mr Speaker, Honourable Mahama Ayariga, the legal advisor to the Ato Forson leadership is today saying that if they get 3 we should get 1. It won’t happen today, it won’t happen tomorrow.”
Watch the video below:
@therealvoiceofnpp♬ original sound – The Voice of NPP🐘🇳🇱🐘
