By Daniel Bampoe
A developing row within Ghana’s Minority Caucus in Parliament has taken a dramatic turn as Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, has formally rejected her nomination to represent Ghana in the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a strongly worded memorandum addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and copied to leadership of both sides of the House, Patricia Appiagyei accused the Majority Leader, Hassan Ayariga of orchestrating an unsolicited move aimed at dividing the Minority leadership.
The controversy erupted on July 22, 2025, when Parliament announced a reconstituted list of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The new list curiously excluded the current Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and named Patricia Appiagyei as his replacement.
However, the Deputy Minority Leader has distanced herself from the reshuffle, stating unequivocally that she was not consulted and never gave her consent to be included in the list.
Lack of Consultation and Procedural Breach
Appiagyei’s memo to Parliament revealed her dismay at the manner in which the nomination process was handled.
“I was neither consulted nor did I give my consent to be considered as a replacement for the Minority Leader,” she stated. She further described the decision to nominate her in Afenyo-Markin’s place as “a calculated effort to cause division between myself and my Leader.”
She emphasized that prior understanding among leadership was that Afenyo-Markin would continue his tenure on the ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation—a position that was previously communicated to the Committee of Selection.
She expressed alarm that the Majority Leader moved a contrary nomination on the floor of Parliament without prior notice or engagement.
Legal and Institutional Implications
Beyond the procedural irregularities, Appiagyei raised substantive legal objections to the move.
According to her, Afenyo-Markin was duly sworn into the ECOWAS Parliament in 2024 and was later elected as one of its Deputy Speakers.
She cited ECOWAS protocols and Ghana’s internal parliamentary guidelines, noting that once a member is appointed and sworn in, their term lasts four years unless they voluntarily resign, are appointed to an executive position or judiciary role, or become otherwise disqualified.
“Any attempt to remove him from the delegation not only breaches internal parliamentary practice but also violates ECOWAS statutes,” she warned, adding that such actions may be rejected by the ECOWAS Parliament itself.
Gender Parity and Political Undercurrents
Addressing suggestions that her nomination was meant to improve gender representation in regional bodies, Appiagyei acknowledged the importance of inclusion and equity but maintained that “such representation must be pursued within the bounds of due process, consultation, and internal consensus.”
She warned against weaponizing gender parity as a political tool to push unilateral and irregular decisions, stating that it could damage the very institutional harmony and credibility Parliament seeks to uphold.
Reversal and Restoration of Original Nominees
Appiagyei concluded her letter by respectfully requesting the Speaker and Clerk of Parliament to rescind the nomination that included her name, reaffirming her rejection of the offer.
She called for the original delegation list, which included Afenyo-Markin, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, and Bryan Acheampong, to be maintained.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate that the resolution that has my name as a nominated member for the delegation to ECOWAS Parliament be stayed,” she wrote, emphasizing that any communication to the ECOWAS Parliament should not include her name.
Political Ramifications
The development has stirred political tension in Parliament, especially within the Minority Caucus.
Observers say the move may reflect deeper internal friction and could potentially strain relations between the two major blocs in the House, particularly with the recent realignment of parliamentary roles and debates over Ghana’s ECOWAS representation.
