Patricia Appiagyei replaces Afenyo-Markin in ECOWAS Parliament

Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei has replaced Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament.

Following the reconstitution of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Deputy Majority Leader George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan also replaces Afenyo-Markin, who previously served as Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Therefore, Ricketts-Hagan is currently expected to lead Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS chamber.

However, the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, has criticised the leadership of Parliament, accusing the Majority Caucus of acting unilaterally and failing to consult the Minority before undertaking the reshuffling procedure.

“The leadership should not be moving motions and asking the house to make decisions that they should be taking and bringing to us.

“I know it is the decision of the house to do it, but it is not for Parliament because the Majority has majority, to force the decision of the majority on the minority about representation” he contended.

However, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, in response to this criticism from the Minority caucus, said the current changes in the West African Parliament are accurate and align with parliamentary tradition.

He justified that ECOWAS parliamentary roles are normally assigned to Deputy Leaders of Parliament in the various African countries.