Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin over the decision to order the removal of Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor from the Chamber, describing the action as “unfair and high-handed”.
Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that Members of Parliament were not required to establish the veracity of allegations before bringing them to the attention of the House, stressing that their responsibility included raising concerns for further examination and investigation by the appropriate parliamentary committees.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Minority Leader said the Majority Leader should have considered Mr Jinapor’s comments and initiated the necessary parliamentary processes to investigate the allegations rather than insisting that he withdraw them.
The controversy followed an allegation by Mr Jinapor that Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had been involved in the sale of diplomatic passports.
Following the allegation, the Speaker directed the Damongo MP to withdraw his comments. However, Mr Jinapor’s failure to comply with the directive resulted in a Parliamentary Marshal escorting him out of the Chamber.
Members of the Minority caucus subsequently walked out of the Chamber in solidarity with their colleague.
Reacting to the incident, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority had understood that Mr Jinapor had withdrawn the statement, questioning why the Speaker proceeded with the order for his removal.
He maintained that Parliament should provide an avenue for members to raise matters of public interest, particularly allegations that require further scrutiny by relevant committees.
According to him, the appropriate course of action would have been for the Majority Leader to acknowledge the concerns raised and facilitate an investigation to establish the facts surrounding the allegations against the Foreign Affairs Minister.
He further argued that parliamentary scrutiny should not be undermined by insisting that lawmakers establish all the facts before bringing issues of public concern before the House.
Tensions Over Diplomatic Passports and South Africa Evacuation
Mr Afenyo-Markin’s comments come amid heightened political tensions between the Majority and Minority caucuses over issues relating to the issuance of diplomatic passports and expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Earlier on Tuesday, November 3, supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) staged a demonstration demanding accountability over alleged financial irregularities surrounding the South Africa evacuation exercise and calling for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation.
The Minority caucus has also raised concerns about the issuance of diplomatic passports, calling for allegations of irregularities to be subjected to proper investigation.
The Foreign Affairs Minister has consequently faced sustained scrutiny from the opposition over the two matters.
The latest confrontation in Parliament has further intensified disagreements between the two sides over accountability, parliamentary oversight and the handling of allegations against public officials.
