A heated confrontation has erupted in Parliament after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga openly rebuked Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over what he described as repeated and unjustified attacks on Deputy Health Minister Grace Ayensu-Danquah.
The tension flared during deliberations on the Governance Advisory Council Bill, 2025, when Dr Ayensu Danquah, who also serves as MP for Essikado Ketan, formally moved a motion for the bill to be read a second time.
“I move that the Governance Advisory Council Bill 2025 be now read a second time,” she stated.
Her move immediately drew a sharp reaction from Afenyo Markin, who questioned both her delivery and understanding of parliamentary procedure.
“We want to understand what is happening in this chamber, we want to know if this House is no longer a House of procedure. What did the Deputy Minister of Health just do? We don’t understand what she just did.
“We should understand what is happening. Move the motion to what effect? That what? If the Majority wants someone to do it, they should teach the person to do it the right way,” he said.
Ayariga, however, fired back strongly, accusing the Minority Leader of singling out the Deputy Minister for persistent criticism and demanding an end to what he suggested was a deliberate pattern of hostility.
“I think this attitude of always attacking this particular Member of Parliament [Grace Ayensu-Danquah] by the Minority Leader must stop. At every opportunity, he tries to attack her. Mr Speaker, what is the meaning of this? What has she done to him? What don’t we know? Tell us. Is there something we need to know? If there’s, let us know. To always attack her the way you do is not fair. Whatever it is, we can help you,” Ayariga said.
Despite the charged exchanges, Parliament proceeded to pass the Governance Advisory Council Bill, 2025.
The legislation is expected to enhance accountable governance by fostering institutional collaboration, strengthening stakeholder engagement and providing strategic policy direction. It will also support evidence based decision making, track governance performance and promote transparency and participatory democracy.
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Comments
The problem has its roots in unprincipled, pretentious people with arrogance brought on by their ignorance and the fear of others whom they perceive as threat to the status quo. For decades Ghanaian women were kept where our paternalistic cultural dictates offered. As the arrogance of man fell on its own sword, we have seen men who once believed they were big fishes in small ponds they mastered turn to intimidation and public shaming. The men who frequently deploy such tactics, unfortunately...