Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
A dramatic turn of events unfolded in Parliament on January 8, as Speaker Alban Bagbin referred to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament as a “micro-minority.”
This description, made during a debate, instantly sparked outrage from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who deemed the term unbefitting of parliamentary discourse.
The Minority side vehemently protested, filling the floor with chants against the Speaker’s choice of words. Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that the term undermined the dignity of the NPP caucus, stating, “The Minority Caucus hereby protest the description given to us by the Speaker.”
Although Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the validity of Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s argument, he pointed out that the Effutu MP had previously used the term in the same context.
The term “micro-minority” was first used by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on December 13, 2024, in response to comments made by Mr. Afenyo-Markin on democracy.
This controversy comes on the heels of a broader dispute, as the NPP has been navigating the implications of some legislators running as independents in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin had previously expressed displeasure at being referred to as the “Minority Leader” and even stated that he would never occupy the seat due to spiritual reasons.
