Member of Parliament for Effutu and Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin says Speaker Alban Bagbin’s conduct in the legislature’s top job occasionally gave his side the impression that he was doing the bidding of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking during the final sitting of the 8th Parliament, Leader Afenyo-Markin said his side was left disappointed when the speaker repeatedly refused to bring the NDC caucus to the table when there was a misunderstanding.
He reserved a portion of his long-winding speech for Speaker Bagbin with whom he had a difficult relationship in the lead-up to the 2024 general election.
“Mr. Speaker, in spite of these great achievements in strengthening the pillars of parliament, we in the majority, had some few challenges with the manner you handled the house. There were times that we felt that you were partisan and there were times that we felt you could prevail on our colleagues better in cooperating with us. There were times that we felt we were let down but Mr. Speaker as you always say, you cannot do it perfectly,” he said to Mr. Bagbin who was presiding over the sitting.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said he was hopeful that the speaker would grant his side the opportunity to have its say as he had done for the NDC caucus.
“We have no doubt in our minds that you will do that for us,” the leader stated.
The incumbent speaker is the first under the Fourth Republic to be elected as a candidate of the opposition.
Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader in the House has publicly endorsed Speaker Bagbin for a second stint in the nation’s third highest office, the two men had a frosty relationship last year amidst legal tussles between the NPP side and the speaker stemming from challenges against the suspension of four Members of Parliament on grounds of validity.
Both are widely expected to continue in their respective roles in the 9th Parliament.
Leader Afenyo-Markin also heaped praises on the speaker for his leadership and endorsement of worthy causes in the House.
