Minority warns against ‘elective dictatorship’, calls for fairness in Parliament

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has warned that executive dominance and the suppression of parliamentary scrutiny could create an “elective dictatorship”, urging the Speaker of Parliament to ensure fairness and protect the rights of the Minority. He said an electoral mandate did not give any government the authority to undermine accountability, stressing that parliamentary majorities must respect constitutional limits and allow opposing views to be heard.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, November 4, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the growing frustration over the Minority’s ability to scrutinise government actions posed a threat to effective parliamentary oversight. His comments followed Tuesday’s removal of the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, from the Chamber by a Parliamentary Marshal after he refused to withdraw an allegation against Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Mr Afenyo-Markin cautioned the NDC Majority against assuming that its numerical strength gave it unlimited authority, reminding members that the electorate could withdraw its mandate. Read also: Abu Jinapor escorted out of Parliament after refusing to withdraw passport allegation against Ablakwa “People who give you power can take it away,” he said, drawing lessons from the United States midterm elections, which he cited as an example of how voters could change the balance of political power.

He argued that an electoral victory came with the responsibility to govern within constitutional limits and did not confer the right to silence scrutiny. The Minority Leader also called on the Speaker to remain a neutral arbiter in parliamentary proceedings, insisting that disagreements should not automatically be treated as acts of disrespect. He urged the Speaker to exercise authority with patience and ensure that both sides of the House were given a fair opportunity to make their cases.

“We therefore respectfully ask that challenges be met with composure, disagreement distinguished from disrespect, and authority exercised with patience,” he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that Parliament must allow allegations against public officials to be examined on their merits, rather than frustrate attempts by the opposition to demand accountability.

“Let a mighty minority make its case. Let the evidence be examined. Let the minister be heard. Let Parliament perform its duty. And let the people decide. This is what we call for,” he added.