Parliamentary proceedings on January 8 took a dramatic turn when Speaker Alban Bagbin described Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a “micro-minority,” triggering immediate backlash.

The remark, made during a debate, led to an outcry from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who condemned the term as inappropriate and disrespectful in parliamentary discourse. The Minority side of the house rose in protest, filling the chamber with chants against the Speaker’s choice of words.

Afenyo-Markin argued that the use of the term undermined the dignity of the NPP caucus. “The Minority Caucus hereby protests the description given to us by the Speaker,” he stated.

Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the protest, admitting that Afenyo-Markin had a valid point. However, he swiftly pointed out that the term had been previously used by Afenyo-Markin himself.

The phrase “micro-minority” first emerged in public discourse on December 13, 2024, when NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia used it in response to comments from Afenyo-Markin. At the time, Asiedu Nketia had criticised Afenyo-Markin for his remarks about the state of democracy, especially after reports of NDC supporters allegedly causing chaos at collation centres during the elections.

This latest incident follows months of tension within the NPP ranks, with Afenyo-Markin expressing his frustration with being referred to as the “Minority Leader” in the wake of some NPP MPs running as independents ahead of the 2024 elections. On November 11, 2024, Afenyo-Markin also declared he would never sit as Minority Leader for what he described as spiritual reasons.

The exchange in Parliament underscores the ongoing tensions between the two major political parties as Ghana’s political landscape continues to evolve.

Source:TheDotNews