Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho and Deputy Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, over what he describes as an “unfortunate and embarrassing” incident surrounding Ghana’s delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, the Bosome Freho lawmaker accused the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who also serves as MP for North Tongu, of sidelining him from the trip at the last minute. He argued that the move undermines parliamentary conventions and risks fueling division within the House.
According to his petition, it is longstanding practice that both the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee are part of Ghana’s delegation to the UNGA. With the Ranking Member unavailable, Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said he had been duly designated to represent the Minority in his capacity as Deputy Ranking Member.
He explained that after receiving his ticket on September 18 and being assured that his Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) would be provided at Kotoka International Airport, he was informed at the check-in counter on the day of departure (September 22) that his ticket had been withdrawn.
“The Chairman and Clerk subsequently reached out to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for clarification. Regrettably, the Minister’s Personal Assistant explained that the Ministry could only sponsor two participants, the Chairman and the Clerk; hence my exclusion,” the MP stated.
Describing the development as “embarrassing” and damaging to the image of Parliament, Asafo-Adjei Ayeh criticised the lack of prior communication, stressing that the decision could have been handled more professionally.
“This unfortunate and embarrassing development could have been avoided had the Minister or the Ministry communicated their decision at least a day earlier,” he wrote. “This incident has brought the name of Parliament into disrepute and risks fostering unnecessary acrimony among Members of Parliament.”
The Bosome Freho legislator is therefore urging the Speaker to intervene and ensure such incidents do not recur, arguing that safeguarding the dignity and integrity of Parliament requires MPs to be shielded from avoidable embarrassment.
“I respectfully petition Your Rt. Hon. Speakership to take due notice of this matter and to initiate the appropriate steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future,” he appealed.
As at press time, neither the Office of the Speaker nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had publicly responded to the petition.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
