The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has cautioned Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to stop what he described as persistent verbal attacks on the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah.
The warning follows Afenyo-Markin’s sharp critique of Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, during parliamentary proceedings on the Governance Advisory Council Bill, 2025.
Tensions arose when Dr Ayensu-Danquah moved a motion for the bill to be read a second time.
“I move that the Governance Advisory Council Bill 2025 be now read a second time,” she said.
Afenyo-Markin immediately challenged the motion, questioning her approach on the floor.
“We want to understand what is happening in this chamber. We want to know if this House is no longer a House of procedure. What did the Deputy Minister of Health just do? Move the motion to what effect? If the Majority wants someone to do it, they should teach the person to do it the right way,” he said.
In response, Mahama Ayariga described the comments as part of a pattern of attacks on Dr Ayensu-Danquah and urged the Minority Leader to desist.
“This attitude of always attacking this particular Member of Parliament must stop. At every opportunity, he tries to attack her. Mr Speaker, what is the meaning of this? Is there something we need to know? To always attack her the way you do is not fair,” Ayariga stated.
Despite the heated exchanges, Parliament passed the Governance Advisory Council Bill, 2025. The legislation aims to strengthen accountable governance by promoting collaboration among institutions, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and providing strategic policy guidance.
The Council will also support evidence-based decision-making, monitor governance performance, and promote transparency and participatory democracy in Ghana.
