Speaker refuses to refer Dr. Ayew Afriyie’s conduct to Privileges Committee

 

Published: June 11, 2025

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has taken a decision not to refer the conduct of Minority MP, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie to the Privileges Committee for causing chaos in the House on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Proceedings of the House on June 10 were disrupted after Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on the Health Committee defied a decision by the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who had refused to admit a statement on the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

Dr. Afriyie insisted on addressing the House, prompting the Speaker to order the Marshal to remove him from the chamber. This caused strong protests and disorder among Minority MPs.

The heated exchanges forced Ahiafor  to suspend proceedings and adjourned the House to Wednesday, June 11.

Alban Bagbin whiles ruling on the matter on the floor of the House on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 urged the MPs to respect the rules and proceedings of the House.

“The Speaker, however, the situation is always right on the floor. I want Hon. Members to take this in good faith. This is not a matter to be referred to any committee. It’s a matter that I have discussed with leadership, and we have agreed that it should be resolved. And we will solve it here openly for all of us to be guided, so that in future we don’t fall foul of the law,” he stated.

Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin while giving his opening statement on the floor of the House expressed gratitude to the Speaker for taking a “fatherly approach” to resolve the issue.

“I want to thank you once again for a fatherly approach you have adopted in dealing with this matter,” he noted.

On his part, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga advised MPs to invest in the rules of the House, noting that the happenings on Tuesday, June 11 depicts serious and egregious breaches of the rules of the House.

“I think your statement is enough on the issues of yesterday and all I can say is that we should all take time to study the rules.

“Thank you for not penalizing any member of the house. Your magnanimity is appreciated,” Ayariga stated.