In the dark corridors of political strategy, there are power plays so blatant and desperate that they expose more than they conceal. The recent attempt by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remove the Minority Leader, Hon Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, from Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament is one such act — calculated, ill-intentioned, and ultimately a failed attempt to fracture the solid leadership of the Minority Caucus.
This clandestine move was orchestrated without consultation with the Minority Leadership, nor was there any legal basis to warrant such action.
Even more diabolical was their move to replace the Minority Leader with his own deputy, Hon Patricia Appiagyei, a move clearly intended to incite tension, distrust, and rivalry at the top of the Minority front.
This was not just a breach of internal parliamentary protocol but rather, a brazen violation of the laws and rules that govern representation within the ECOWAS Parliament. One must ask: What was the endgame of the NDC in attempting to tamper with a delegation it does not control? Was this part of a wider scheme to delegitimise a leader they cannot displace through democratic means?
Thankfully, this scheme failed. ECOWAS, guided by its own protocols and legal standards, would not become a willing accomplice in such political mischief.
To understand just how unfounded and unconstitutional this attempt was, one only needs to refer to the clear provisions in the Supplementary Act Relating to the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, which spell out the term of office and the grounds for replacement of a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The rules governing the composition and functioning of the ECOWAS Parliament are established under Supplementary Act A/SA.1/12/16, adopted in December 2016. This legal instrument outlines the procedures for the appointment, tenure, and possible replacement of Members of Parliament (MEPs) representing each Member State.
According to the relevant provisions of the Supplementary Act:
1. Fixed Tenure of Members / Speaker and Deputy Speakers
Article 18(2) of the Supplementary Act clearly states that Members of the ECOWAS Parliament shall be elected for four (4) years from the date of the inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament. This mandate shall last until the last day of the legislature. This fixed term is protected and cannot be interrupted arbitrarily by national authorities. Once a Member is duly elected and sworn in, their mandate is independent of national political changes or internal reassignments.
Based on Articles 24 and 25 of the Supplementary Act, the tenure of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers shall be for the life of the Legislature.
2. Limited and Specific Grounds for Replacement
Replacement of a Member can only occur under the specific circumstances outlined in Article 18(3) of the Supplementary Act and further clarified in the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. These grounds include:
• Death of the Member;
• Written resignation to the Speaker (voluntary resignation);
• Certified mental or physical incapacity to perform his/her duty;
• Resignation due to incompatibility as stated in the Act;
• Removal by Parliament due to disrepute as provided for in the Rules of Procedure;
• Non-re-election of the Member (loss of election).
3. Incompatibility of Members of the ECOWAS Parliament
Article 19 of the Supplementary Act establishes the rules of incompatibility for Members of the ECOWAS Parliament (MEPs). The purpose of these rules is to prevent conflicts of interest, uphold the integrity and independence of the Parliament, and ensure that Members can perform their duties effectively and impartially.
Article 19 prohibits:
• Holding an executive position in a national government (e.g., Minister or President);
• Occupying a judicial office; or
• Performing duties in another international organization or institution that might conflict with ECOWAS responsibilities.
Therefore, political realignment, a change of government, or internal party reshuffling do not constitute valid grounds for the replacement of a Member during their term.
4. Institutional Autonomy and Stability
The Supplementary Act was designed to strengthen the independence and legitimacy of the ECOWAS Parliament. Allowing Member States to recall or replace Members for reasons outside the legal framework would compromise the institutional integrity of the Parliament, disrupt its continuity, and open the door to undue political influence.
5. Examples of Attempts to Replace Members
a. Togo — Dahuku Péré (2002)
In August 2002, the National Assembly of Togo voted to replace Dahuku Péré—who had been elected as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament—with Solitoki Esso. The vote passed overwhelmingly with no opposition in the Assembly. However, the ECOWAS Parliament objected, stating that there was no legal basis under ECOWAS rules for such a unilateral replacement of a sitting member.
b. Liberia — Attempted Recall of ECOWAS Parliamentarians (2025)
In early 2025, the Liberian House of Representatives, under Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, sought to recall and replace three sitting ECOWAS MPs (Samuel R. Enders Sr., Taa Z. Wongbe, and Moima Briggs Mensah) citing internal legislative power struggles.
ECOWAS Parliament formally rejected the request in a letter dated 7 March 2025. The letter cited Article 18.1.2, reaffirming that once MPs take the oath of office, their mandates are fixed for four years and cannot be terminated prematurely, except by resignation, death, incapacity, incompatibility, loss of elections, or misconduct.
During an ECOWAS parliamentary session, MPs including Sheriff S. Sarr (Gambia), Mohammed Ndume (Nigeria), and others publicly rejected the Liberian attempt, emphasizing that ECOWAS rules cannot be overridden by national legislative action.
c. Guinea-Bissau — Hon. Manuel do Nascimento Lopes (2025)
In 2025, the National Assembly of Guinea-Bissau, through its Speaker, sought to replace Hon. Manuel Lopes, citing that the said representative was facing legal proceedings and awaiting trial in Portugal. In response, the ECOWAS Parliament rejected the request, explaining that the reason provided did not fall within the grounds for replacement as outlined under Article 18.
As clearly elaborated under the Supplementary Act A/SA.1/12/16, a Member State cannot unilaterally or arbitrarily replace a sitting Member of the ECOWAS Parliament during their fixed term. Any attempt to do so without meeting the legal conditions would be inconsistent with ECOWAS law and practice.
Hon Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who is the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has not resigned, is not incapacitated, has not been removed by Ghana’s Parliament, and remains an active Member of Parliament. Therefore, any unilateral attempt to remove him from the ECOWAS delegation not only violates the law but also dishonours Ghana’s institutional credibility within the sub-region.
More fundamentally, this episode exposes the disturbing ease with which some political actors are willing to abuse procedure for personal or partisan gain, even at the cost of Ghana’s reputation within a respected regional body like ECOWAS.
It is reassuring that the laws governing the ECOWAS Parliament prevent it from being an accomplice to this diabolical agenda by the NDC. But this incident must serve as a warning to all who would seek to manipulate systems and structures to settle political scores. Ghana’s democracy, and its international engagements, deserve better.
The Minority Caucus remains united under the leadership of Hon Alexander Afenyo-Markin. This failed attempt to engineer division only strengthens the resolve of those committed to principle, law, and service, not petty sabotage.
Democracy is not a game of underhanded maneuvers. It is a sacred trust between leaders and the people they serve. Let those who attempted to sully that trust with backdoor dealings take a moment to reflect, because in their failure, they have only revealed the strength, cohesion, and resilience of the leadership they tried to break.
BY Kwaku Barnes
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