MP Ayew Escapes Bagbin’s Wrath … After Failing To Obey Ahiafor’s Order To Leave The House

Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore and Ranking Member on the Health Committee, narrowly escaped referral to Parliament’s Privileges Committee on Tuesday, after a dramatic confrontation over an urgent statement on the ongoing nurses’ strike.

Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, who also serves as the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, wanted to make an urgent statement addressing the strike action undertaken by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

The strike, which began on Tuesday, June 4, 2025 disrupted healthcare delivery nationwide, raising concerns across the political divide.

However, proceedings turned chaotic when the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over the sitting, refused to allow the Ranking Member on the Health Committee to deliver his statement.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the statement had not been admitted, despite being listed in the day’s Order Paper.

Deputy Speaker Ahiafor

In his ruling, Mr. Ahiafor argued that being listed in the Order Paper did not amount to official admission by the Speaker, as per the Standing Orders of Parliament.

He cited Order 93(2), which gives the Speaker the sole discretion to admit statements before they are laid or read on the floor.

“The statement you’re referring to has not been admitted by the Speaker. It is not enough that it is listed in the Order Paper. The rules are very clear,” Mr. Ahiafor stated, sparking murmurs and protests from members of the Minority Caucus.

Despite repeated attempts by Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie to justify the urgency of the issue and the need to address the plight of patients affected by the strike, the Deputy Speaker held his ground, insisting on strict adherence to procedure. “Let’s not set a bad precedent,” he warned.

Leave the Chamber

As tempers flared, the Deputy Speaker issued an order directing Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie to leave the Chamber, citing insubordination. The Ranking Member on the Health Committee initially resisted the order, emphasising the importance of the issue at hand.

“I am not worried about that. It is an issue of urgent public importance. I am ready to leave,” Dr. Ayew retorted, earning cheers from some members of the Minority.

The Speaker clarified that while the statement had indeed been submitted and was reflected in the Order Paper, he had not yet had the opportunity to review and admit it, which is a mandatory step before presentation.

“I have not admitted the statement. If you have written a statement calling on me to admit it, how do I admit it without reading it? The fact that it is advertised does not mean it is admitted,” Speaker Ahiafor ruled.

New Standing Orders

The Speaker further explained that the new Standing Orders differentiate between statements and motions. Whereas motions are automatically captured in the Order Paper once submitted, statements require the explicit admission of the Speaker, following due diligence.

“Once I get the opportunity to read it and find it admissible, I will programme it for the following day. There is no difference between today and tomorrow,” he assured the House.

The Speaker then instructed the Marshall to walk the MP out of the house, but the members of the minority blocked him from doing so.

Minority Leader

Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin had earlier appealed to the Speaker to consider the urgency of the matter and allow the statement to be delivered without delay. He expressed support, urging flexibility in such matters where national interest and public health were at stake.

“This is not about politics. It is about lives being lost or endangered. We must show leadership,” Afenyo-Markin asserted.

Privileges Committee

Despite the dramatic confrontation and defiance shown by Dr. Ayew Afriyie in the face of the Deputy Speaker’s directive, Speaker Alban Bagbin opted for a measured approach.

Contrary to expectations, he did not refer the Effiduase-Asokore MP to the Privileges Committee in yesterday’s sitting, when he (Speaker) himself chaired the proceedings for the day.

Rather, the Speaker reiterated the need for Members to abide by the Standing Orders and emphasised that due process would be followed in admitting and programming the statement for presentation.

“The proper thing will be done. Let’s not be driven by emotions. We are governed by law and order,” the Speaker said.

 

The post MP Ayew Escapes Bagbin’s Wrath … After Failing To Obey Ahiafor’s Order To Leave The House appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

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