The Minority in Parliament is demanding an unqualified apology from the Speaker of Parliament and the Majority Leader, accusing both leaders of embarrassing the country and violating ECOWAS protocols in what they describe as a “political prosecution” of the Minority Leader.

Speaking at a press briefing, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, said recent developments in the House amount to a coordinated attempt to undermine and remove their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

She claimed she was “sandwiched” with a motion to replace the Minority Leader without prior consultation.

According to her, she wrote multiple letters to the Speaker Alban Bagbin, to express her “strong displeasure” at what she called a unilateral move by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, insisting that the decision disregarded parliamentary procedure and the Minority caucus.

Madam Appiagyei also referenced ECOWAS and international parliamentary laws, arguing that the mandate of the 3rd Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Afenyo-Markin, “has not expired,” contrary to the justification put forward for the attempted leadership change.

The Minority is therefore calling for the immediate withdrawal of the referral made by the Speaker against their leader, and an apology to him, the Minority caucus, the nation, and ECOWAS.

“They claim to defend the Constitution, and now seek to punish the one man who had the courage and moral clarity to stand firm in defence of the rule of law,” she said.

“If defending the Constitution is now contempt, then every patriot in Ghana should prepare to be held in contempt by this Speaker and Majority Leader.”

She further described the situation as only one episode in what she believes is a “coordinated campaign of intimidation” against the Minority Leader.

She cited three incidents which, in her view, point to a broader attempt to silence him.

First, she referenced an alleged threat by an NDC National Vice Chairman who reportedly vowed to “deal with” the Minority Leader, an incident she said remains unprosecuted despite police statements suggesting an arrest.

Second, she claimed the Attorney-General’s office had floated “threats of criminal reviews” through selective media leaks aimed at tarnishing the Minority Leader’s reputation and weakening his oversight role.

She also criticised the Speaker’s handling of the ECOWAS Parliament matter, describing it as a breach of regional law.

The Minority maintains that the actions taken by the Speaker and Majority Leader are politically motivated and risk further eroding confidence in Ghana’s parliamentary democracy.