A photo collage of Alexander Afenyo-Markin (L) and Bernard Ahiafor
Parliament on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, witnessed heated exchanges over the use of the dispatch box as the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, ruled that Members of Parliament (MPs) in their representative capacity are not permitted to use the dispatch box to ask questions.
The confusion erupted after the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, walked to the dispatch box to pose an urgent question to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, immediately raised concerns, arguing that there was no basis in the Standing Orders for the Minority Leader to use the dispatch box in this manner.
The Majority Leader insisted that the dispatch box has traditionally been reserved for Ministers responding to questions, ceremonial Heads of State addressing Parliament, and leaders of the House but not to ask a question.
“Mr. Speaker, can you have the Minority Leader show us which Standing Order allows him to ask questions from the dispatch box? this is not the practice. For so many years in this House, no Minority Leader has asked questions from the dispatch box. It is not done.”
The Majority Caucus maintained that allowing an MP to ask a question from the dispatch box would breach parliamentary practice and open the door for procedural confusion.
In response, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, argued that there is no express provision in the Standing Orders preventing him from using the dispatch box to ask a question.
“It is my case that the invitation by the Majority Leader to you to deny me the opportunity to use the Dispatch Box to ask a question is not founded on any rule,” Afenyo-Markin contended.
“Mr. Speaker, I have gone through the rules, and where the Standing Orders intend to make something mandatory, it expressly states so. There is no such express provision requiring a member to necessarily stand at their seat to ask a question.”
The dispute led to a prolonged back-and-forth, prompting the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, to call for a temporary suspension of proceedings for leadership consultations.
Upon resumption, Ahiafor delivered a ruling that sought to bring clarity to the use of the dispatch box. Quoting Order 5(1) of Parliament’s Standing Orders, he noted that where there is no express provision, the Speaker has the authority to interpret the rules.
“Honourable Members, though the honourable Minister of Trade, Industry, and Agribusiness is a Member of Parliament, she is not here to answer questions as an MP. She is here in her capacity as a Minister. The only place available for the Minister is to sit by the leader and use the dispatch box to answer the question,” Ahiafor explained.
“We all have a place to rise and speak, but Ministers do not have a place to rise and speak. The only place available for the Minister is to use the dispatch box.”
The Speaker while addressing Afenyo Markin invoked the words of Lord Denning, saying, “The law is about common sense and common sense is the law,” as he ruled that only Ministers or leaders of the House may use the Dispatch Box, not Members in their representative capacity.
Delivering his ruling, Ahiafor declared, “Any member in his or her representative capacity but not in the capacity of the caucus should rise in his or her place to ask a question and not use the Dispatch Box.”
@io_news_ #creatorsearchinsights #creatorsearchinsights #creatorsearchinsights #follow #fypシ゚ #CapCut #fypp #ghanatiktok #nigeriantiktokinfluencer #ghanatiktokers #ghanafuodotcom #fypuk #duet #ghanatiktok_ #fup #fy #ghanatiktok_ #ghanavideogra #Ghana #LawsonTV #Afisem #lawsonfm ♬ original sound – io_news_
AM/KA
GhanaWeb Special: The gold market that fuels galamsey
