Alexander Afenyo‑Markin, Ghana’s Minority Leader, addressed the opening ceremony of the 8th Africa Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments at Accra City Hotel on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. He urged parliamentary legal counsel to stay independent and provide candid advice whenever parliamentary rules threaten the rights of members.
Mr Afenyo‑Markin warned that the role of legal counsel should extend beyond interpreting procedural rules to helping Parliament uphold constitutional principles and protect the rights of all its members. He cautioned that parliamentary procedures must not become tools for suppressing dissent or preventing minority members from participating meaningfully in legislative business.
The Minority Leader argued that a legislature’s effectiveness partly depends on its ability to accommodate differing views, scrutinise government decisions, and allow members to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without undue restriction. He emphasised that parliamentary legal counsel must offer impartial advice regardless of the political affiliations of those involved in a dispute, assessing issues on their legal merits rather than partisan considerations.
He also stressed that the independence of parliamentary counsel is central to maintaining a balance between the legislative and executive arms of government. Where legal counsel cannot act independently, Parliament risks losing an important institutional safeguard against the improper use of authority.
The colloquium gathers legal practitioners serving legislatures across Africa to exchange experiences and examine ways of improving parliamentary legal services. Discussions include the role of legal counsel in strengthening legislative institutions and the continued relevance of the Nairobi Principles, which outline standards for independent and professional legal services to parliaments.
Mr Afenyo‑Markin called for a professional culture in which parliamentary lawyers can advise without fear or favour, even when their opinions may be unwelcome to political leaders. He maintained that protecting minority participation is not merely a political consideration but essential to ensuring parliamentary institutions operate fairly and remain accountable to the public.
Moving forward, the call for independent legal counsel in Parliament highlights the need for robust safeguards that protect minority voices and uphold democratic accountability. Parliament and its legal advisers will need to heed this warning to preserve the integrity of Ghana’s legislative process.
