“Mr. Speaker, I Have A Confession To Make, I’m Not Worried About How The Media Will Take It”—Afenyo Marlon

In a rare public admission, Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has expressed deep regret over his earlier decision to reject a key proposal by Speaker Alban Bagbin concerning the leadership of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

Speaking candidly on the floor of Parliament on March 4, 2025, Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Effutu, confessed that opposing the Speaker’s idea was a mistake. The proposal in question, which arose during discussions on Parliament’s new Standing Orders, suggested that the Minority Leader should chair the powerful Appointments Committee—a move aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.

At the time of the proposal, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held the majority in Parliament and resisted the change, fearing it would weaken their influence over critical parliamentary approvals. However, years later, Afenyo-Markin admitted the decision was shortsighted.

“Mr. Speaker, I have a confession to make, and I am not worried about how the media will perceive it. We make mistakes, and when we realize them, we must own up to them,” he stated openly.

Afenyo-Markin now acknowledges that the Speaker’s suggestion was a forward-thinking reform designed to strengthen Ghana’s democracy and improve parliamentary processes.

“The proposal was dismissed when we were in the Majority, and I felt then that if the Minority Leader chaired the committee, it would weaken our position. Today, I can admit that the Speaker was looking beyond that immediate concern,” he reflected.

The confession comes amid ongoing debates in Parliament over balancing power between Majority and Minority factions. Recently, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga introduced a proposal for a debate quota favoring the Majority, further igniting discussions about the need to safeguard fairness in parliamentary procedures.

Afenyo-Markin used the opportunity to caution the current NDC Majority against falling into the same trap of prioritizing partisan dominance over national interest.

“The joy of being in the Majority should not blind the leadership of this House to the fact that all sides must be heard and protected,” he advised.

This moment of reflection from the Minority Leader highlights the evolving nature of Ghana’s parliamentary democracy and the critical importance of learning from past political miscalculations to build stronger, more inclusive institutions.