Accra: First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has expressed frustration over what he describes as persistent allegations of bias by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during parliamentary proceedings. The emotional exchange occurred on Thursday, July 16, 2026, after Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament for Effutu, accused the Chair of being one-sided in the handling of proceedings in the House.
According to Ghana Web, Ahiafor, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, said he could no longer endure the repeated claims that he was unfair in presiding over parliamentary business. The remarks followed a disagreement over the conduct of proceedings after Afenyo-Markin sought the suspension of the House.
The Minority Leader argued that the Chair had applied the Standing Orders inconsistently, claiming that while requests made by the Majority Leader were readily granted, similar applications from the Minority were often rejected. "Mr Speaker, when the Majority Leader applied for the suspension of the House, you granted it. I hereby call for the suspension of the House for five minutes," Afenyo-Markin said.
He further accused the Chair of treating members of the two sides differently, insisting that the Speaker frequently reprimanded Minority MPs while allowing members of the Majority to act without sanction. "The Speaker is one-sided. When it is us, he will reprimand us. When it is you, he doesn't reprimand," he alleged.