On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo‑Markin issued a statement on behalf of the Minority Caucus, accusing Speaker Alban Bagbin of presiding over parliamentary bullying after the removal of Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor from the chamber. Afenyo‑Markin condemned the Speaker’s decision to enforce a directive that forced Abu Jinapor to leave the parliamentary floor, despite the MP having withdrawn allegations concerning the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.
Abu Jinapor had raised concerns that diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000, prompting the Speaker to direct him to withdraw the allegations. The Minority claims that Abu Jinapor sought clarification on the specific allegation before withdrawing his comments twice, yet the directive to leave the chamber was upheld. The caucus described the action as “disproportionate, humiliating and, in its effect, an act of parliamentary bullying.”
“An express withdrawal in compliance with the Speaker’s directive deserves acknowledgement, not punishment,” Afenyo‑Markin said. The development triggered a walkout by Minority MPs in solidarity with Abu Jinapor and protest against what they considered unjust treatment of their colleague.
Beyond the parliamentary confrontation, the Minority insists that the allegations surrounding the issuance of diplomatic and service passports warrant a full investigation. It claims to possess supporting material raising concerns about alleged false representations and impersonation in the procurement of such passports, with indications of possible illicit transactions. The caucus has called for the material to be examined through appropriate parliamentary procedures and demanded that Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa appear before Parliament to respond to the allegations.
Afenyo‑Markin also accused the governing Majority of using its numerical strength to frustrate parliamentary scrutiny and undermine the rights of the Minority. He warned that parliamentary majorities must not become instruments of intimidation, arguing that electoral victories do not give governments the licence to suppress dissent or evade accountability. “The Majority may possess the votes, but the Minority must retain an effective voice and a keen eye for scrutiny,” he stated.
The caucus has raised broader concerns about a pattern of intimidation, harassment and politically motivated actions against members of the opposition, including arrests, detention and onerous bail conditions. Reaffirming the Minority’s commitment to its constitutional responsibilities, Afenyo‑Markin said the caucus would not be intimidated into abandoning its oversight role. “Samuel Abu Jinapor shall not be silenced. The Minority Caucus shall not be silenced,” he declared.
He concluded the statement by pledging that the Minority would continue demanding accountability from government officials and defending the constitutional rights of Parliament and the Ghanaian people.
