By Eugene Davis
The Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, has formally declined her inclusion in Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a memo addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and copied to the Majority and Minority Leaders as well as the Clerk to Parliament—and subsequently circulated to the media—Hon. Appiagyei stated that she was neither consulted nor did she give her consent to be nominated as a replacement for Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.
“At no point have I expressed an intention to replace my Leader,” she wrote, adding that the development appears to be a calculated attempt to sow division between herself and the Minority Leader.
According to her, prior to the day’s proceedings, leadership had a clear understanding that Hon. Afenyo-Markin would continue to serve on the ECOWAS Parliament, a position communicated to the Committee of Selection. She expressed concern that a contrary nomination was introduced on the floor without consultation, and notably, by the Majority Leader.
Beyond procedural irregularities, Hon. Appiagyei stressed that the move contravenes both the legal and institutional framework of the ECOWAS Parliament. “Once a Member is sworn in, their tenure runs for four years,” she noted.
She pointed out that Hon. Afenyo-Markin, having been sworn in last year and subsequently elected as a Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, retains a valid and ongoing mandate. Any attempt to replace him, she said, lacks both legal justification and procedural propriety.
Citing ECOWAS Parliamentary rules, she emphasized that a sitting member can only be removed under specific circumstances—such as voluntary resignation, disqualification, or appointment to another incompatible position. None of these apply to the Minority Leader.
“While I support the call for greater women’s representation in regional bodies like the ECOWAS Parliament,” she said, “such efforts must follow due process and reflect internal consensus. Gender equity cannot be used as a pretext for arbitrary or divisive actions.”
The memo reaffirmed the Minority Caucus’s commitment to gender equity in governance, but warned that procedural breaches in the name of representation undermine both the objective and institutional integrity.
“In light of the foregoing, I respectfully decline my inclusion in the ECOWAS Parliament delegation,” she stated. “The Minority Leader retains a valid mandate and should not be replaced without cause or consensus.”
She requested that the original nominees for the ECOWAS Parliament be maintained:
Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin
Hon. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi
Hon. Bryan Acheampong
For clarity, Hon. Appiagyei called for any resolution listing her name as a nominee to be rescinded and urged the Clerk to Parliament not to communicate her inclusion to ECOWAS.
She concluded by expressing hope that the matter will be resolved in a manner that preserves the unity and integrity of Parliament and avoids public embarrassment to the institution.
