At the Accra City Hotel on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Ghana’s Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo‑Markin delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Africa Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments. He urged that parliamentary legal counsel be independent, professional and impartial, warning that reliance on the executive arm for legal opinions diminishes Parliament’s ability to perform its constitutional duties.
“A Parliament that depends upon the executive for its legal opinions is a diminished Parliament,” Afenyo‑Markin said. He argued that counsel must be autonomous enough to provide candid advice on constitutional and procedural matters without undue influence from the executive or partisan politics. According to him, such independence is essential for preserving the separation of powers and enabling Parliament to discharge its responsibilities unencumbered by other government interests.
He further highlighted that parliamentary lawyers play a broader role than merely issuing technical opinions. They must protect parliamentary institutions, promote constitutionalism and ensure that procedures are applied fairly. “The principle of non‑partisanship should not be confused with passivity,” he added, stressing that counsel must speak up when practices threaten established rules or safeguards.
Afenyo‑Markin also stressed the need for counsel to safeguard minority rights within legislative bodies, ensuring that procedures are not used to undermine opposition participation or weaken minority oversight. His remarks were part of a broader discussion on strengthening African legislatures’ institutional capacity and improving the independence of their legal services.
The colloquium serves as a platform for parliamentary legal practitioners across the continent to exchange experiences and promote professional, independent services. Afenyo‑Markin urged participants to review the implementation of the Nairobi Principles, which guide the establishment and operation of independent counsel offices, and to strengthen them in response to contemporary challenges.
He concluded that an independent legal service is not merely an administrative arrangement but a necessary safeguard for parliamentary autonomy, democratic accountability and the rule of law.
