A heated confrontation erupted in Parliament on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, as the Minority and Majority sides clashed over the rules for debating the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
At the heart of the dispute is the Majority’s proposal to adopt a proportional approach to debating the SONA, which the Minority vehemently opposed.
According to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, parliamentary practice and precedent have never allowed debates to be conducted based on numerical strength.
He argued that this approach would undermine the traditional debating methods, where both sides are given equal representation.
The MP for Effuttu, Afenyo-Markin firmly stated that his caucus would not accept such a move by the Majority.
However, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga countered that the House had collectively adopted the business committee’s report, which included the proportional debate format for SONA discussions.
Mahama Ayariga’s argument is that the Majority has a supermajority and wants more of its members to have the opportunity to speak.
The disagreement intensified, with Afenyo-Markin accusing the Majority of making a “pedestrian argument”.
He questioned the Majority’s confidence in the quality of its representatives, asking if they wanted a one-on-one comparison.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the Minority would not accept a proportional approach, citing that it has never been done since the 2nd Parliament.
The standoff led to a 40-minute suspension of proceedings, allowing the leaders of both sides to engage in discussions and resolve the matter.
The debate on SONA began on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, following President John Dramani Mahama’s presentation of the address on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
