The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has grave expressed concern about what he described as growing threats to freedom of speech in the country and Parliament cautioning against attempts by the Majority side to use their numerical strength to silence opposing views.
Speaking during the vetting of Chief Justice Nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on Monday, November 10, 2025, Afenyo-Markin said there appeared to be “dark clouds” over the country’s democracy where even Members of Parliament could not freely express their opinions without intimidation.
“There are dark clouds indeed in this country where freedom of speech, by mere operation of a super majority, is under threat. You cannot, even as a Member of Parliament, make your comment,” he lamented.
His remarks followed a disagreement with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who had earlier urged him to retract a reference to the Chief Justice Nominee as a “disputed nominee” during his opening statement.
Afenyo-Markin, however, maintained that his comment was within his rights and did not contravene any parliamentary rule.
He accused the Majority Leader of acting in bad faith and attempting to obstruct the peaceful process of the committee’s public hearing.
“The rule he relied upon has to do with debate on the floor of the House. I am not moving a motion. I am not debating. This practice where people create confusion and their own jurisprudence must come to an end ” he argued.
Afenyo-Markin further stressed that parliamentary democracy thrives on open dialogue and mutual respect, not intimidation or procedural manipulation.
“If the Majority Leader has anything to say in opposition to my opening remarks, he has a right, bona fide, as leader of government business, to also make his submission,” he said, urging fairness and tolerance in parliamentary deliberations.
