The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, could not hold back his frustration about the media’s refusal to refer to him as the Majority Leader.
Speaking after the Supreme Court adjourned his application challenging Speaker Alban Bagbin‘s declaration of four seats in the House vacant, on November 11, 2024, Afenyo-Markin took issue with the media referring to him and his caucus as the NPP caucus of Parliament.
He explained that, per the Supreme Court’s ruling, which stayed the Speaker’s declaration, his side forms the Majority Caucus, and he is the Majority Leader of the House.
“I urge all of you, the media, to stop describing the NPP majority as the NPP caucus. Stop describing me as the leader of the NPP caucus. As part of your journalism, your job is to follow the law to disseminate the right information. This matter came up in court, and I beg of you, it doesn’t matter your political affiliation or how you feel as a media house. Do justice to the issues.
“The Speaker made the pronouncement. He then turned around to say he didn’t rule; he only expressed an opinion. You have a court of competent jurisdiction, which Mr. Speaker himself subjected himself to its authority and jurisdiction.”
He noted that he is rightfully the majority leader while urging the media to seek clarification from the court if needed.
“He came to challenge the first ruling the court ruled upon after argument by his counsel and finally, the court said no way. Your ruling, your determination of the matter must stay. What else? Any media house that needs clarification must seek clarification from the court. Stop describing the Majority Caucus as the NPP caucus. Stop doing your headlines where you say that Afenyo-Markin, the leader of the NPP Caucus, Afenyo-Markin is the bona fide leader of Parliament.
“I am the Majority Leader of Parliament, and the NPP remains the Majority Caucus because our 137 plus the one independent, that was the proclamation by law in the House, and we’ve remained the Majority Caucus. I urge you, the media houses, all of you should ensure that you contribute to this sanity. Because we need you. We need you.”
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