A heated exchange between Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, has degenerated calls by the former for her to be summoned before Parliament's Privileges Committee.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 28, during a break in the vetting proceedings of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.

Tensions flared after Mrs. Hardcastle referred to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus as a "Micro-Minority," a term that allegedly offended Mr. Annoh-Dompreh.

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— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) January 28, 2025

Addressing the matter on the floor of Parliament, the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Mr Annoh-Dompreh expressed dissatisfaction with Mrs. Hardcastle’s conduct, describing her comments as disrespectful and unbefitting of her role.

He urged the Speaker of Parliament to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for further investigation.

Also commenting on the matter in Parliament was Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu.

He was not pleased with Mrs Hardcastle's remarks, describing them as harmful to Annoh-Dompreh's reputation as an elected Member of Parliament.

He called on Hardcastle to issue a public apology, while advising the Minority Chief Whip to exercise restraint and avoid escalating the matter further.

“The justified request made by the Minority Whip regarding conduct infers damaging his reputation as an elected member of Parliament. Mr. Speaker, as I listened to him, we can only appeal to him that we share what the Hon. MP of Damongo said – that this house must stand united and unanimous in condemning the conduct and demanding an apology for it, but to persuade our colleague not to pursue it further, wanting this matter resolved at the Privileges Committee,” he stated.

Why Micro-Minority?

The word was first heard from the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia on December 13, 2024, when he responded to comments by the then-Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on democracy.

• Read also: Speaker refers to NPP MPs as ‘Micro-Minority,’ sparks outrage

At a press conference earlier that day, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, called on the NDC leadership to immediately rein in their supporters suspected to be causing chaos in collation centres, stating that their actions were detrimental to democracy.

• Read also: You can’t lecture us on democracy – Asiedu Nketia tells “Micro-Minority” leader Afenyo-Markin

Addressing the media, Mr Asiedu Nketia criticised the MP, following reports of the invasion of state institutions and, in some instances, the looting of state assets allegedly carried out by young supporters of the incoming NDC administration.

“I heard my junior brother Afenyo-Markin, who, having rejected the position of Minority Leader, is now on his way to becoming a micro Minority Leader. He is bragging that he belongs to a party of the rule of law and all that,” he said.

• Read also: I’ll never sit in the Minority Leader’s seat; it isn’t good spiritually – Afenyo-Markin

This occurred weeks after the NPP Parliamentary Leader expressed displeasure at being referred to as the "Minority Leader" following the decision by some legislators to run as independents ahead of the 2024 elections.

On November 11, 2024, Mr Afenyo-Markin also said he would never sit in the seat of the Minority Leader due to what he describes as spiritual reasons.

Parliamentary proceedings: NPP MPs angry as Speaker Bagbin labels them 'Micro Minority' #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/CGm3RSdfLG

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 8, 2025

On January 8, Parliamentary proceedings on January 8 took a dramatic turn when Speaker Alban Bagbin referred to the NPP Members of Parliament as a "micro-minority."

The description, made during a debate, sparked an immediate protest from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who described the term as unbefitting of parliamentary discourse.

The Minority side rose in agitation filling the floor with chants against the Speaker's choice of words.

Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that it undermined the dignity of the NPP caucus.

"The Minority Caucus hereby protest the description given to us by the Speaker," he said.

The Speaker admitted that Mr Afenyo-Markin was right in his argument.