Minority accuses Speaker of ‘Parliamentary bullying’ over treatment of Abu Jinapor
By: Valentia Tetteh The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the Speaker of treating the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, unfairly after he was directed to leave the chamber despite withdrawing comments he had made concerning the alleged sale of diplomatic passports. The Minority says the Speaker’s decision was disproportionate and amounted […]
The Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has alleged that Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been overly harsh in his treatment of MP Samuel Abu Jinapor following his withdrawal of comments about the alleged sale of diplomatic passports. The Minority Caucus contends that the Speaker's actions represent a form of parliamentary bullying and raise concerns over the protection of minority voices and Parliament’s responsibility to oversee government conduct.
During a press conference in the House on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin alleged that Mr. Jinapor had withdrawn his contentious comments in full compliance with the Speaker's directive, yet was still asked to depart the chamber. Marking his stance as a collective decision, Afenyo-Markin stated, “An express withdrawal in compliance with a Speaker’s directive deserves acknowledgement, not punishment.”
He maintained that the Speaker’s authority to maintain order must be used with restraint and fairness.
Afenyo-Markin also expressed concerns about possible irregularities in the acquisition of diplomatic and service passports, arguing that supporting evidence pointed to potential false declarations and impersonation. The Minority Caucus plans to present its findings to the House through its Foreign Affairs team, seeking an investigation and offering implicated individuals the chance to respond.
He emphasized that diplomatic passports hold significant authority and reputation for the Republic, and any indication of fraudulent acquisition warrants serious scrutiny.
The Minority Leader further pointed to Article 103 of the Constitution, which empowers parliamentary committees to investigate ministries and departments. He insisted that Parliament’s scrutiny must continue even when the issues involved are uncomfortable, warning against the misuse of parliamentary voting power to obstruct accountability. “An electoral mandate grants no licence to suffocate accountability,” he warned.
Afenyo-Markin reaffirmed the Minority Caucus’s resolve to uphold accountability, declaring that they would not be intimidated or silenced. He challenged the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to directly address the concerns raised, recalling his own track record of demanding accountability during the opposition period.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
