Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Rasheed Dramani, has urged Parliament to take allegations involving its members seriously. The call comes amid the controversy triggered by GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi's allegation that Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin was an "extortionist."
Parliament's Integrity Questioned
Dr Dramani warned that Parliament's failure to properly investigate such claims could deepen public mistrust of the institution. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, he said his concern was not simply about Afenyo-Markin, but about the office he occupies and its importance to parliamentary accountability.
"We need leaders with integrity," Dr Dramani said. "We need a minority with a very high level of integrity to be able to hold this supermajority and the executive accountable." His comments come as the dispute between Afenyo-Markin and Gyamfi has escalated into a legal confrontation, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor conducting a preliminary assessment of related allegations.
Partisan Solidarity and Public Trust
Dr Dramani identified partisan solidarity as one of the factors contributing to public mistrust. He said caucuses sometimes rally behind accused MPs without first confronting the substance of the allegations. "So you accuse one person, then an entire caucus begins to rally around that person without even asking the critical question," he said.
He also questioned whether Parliament applies the same scrutiny to itself that it applies to the Executive. "Parliament is better at scrutinising the executive than having the moral authority to scrutinise itself," Dr Dramani said. He cited the Public Accounts Committee as an example, noting that in 2024 it held about 31 public hearings and made more than 1,000 recommendations for recovery of resources.
A Clear Process to Resolution
Dr Dramani welcomed Afenyo-Markin's decision to go to court and called for a broader approach if Parliament sets up an ad hoc committee. He proposed a committee comprising MPs and eminent Ghanaians if Parliament does not invite an external investigative body. "Maybe a committee of Parliament that is made up of MPs and some eminent Ghanaians, so that for the first time, and in the interest of Parliament itself, in order to improve its image in the eyes of the public, that this matter is dealt with," he said.
Dr Dramani stressed the need for a clear process that takes allegations from investigation to resolution. "What Parliament hasn't done for itself over the years is that we haven't seen a clear path of allegation to resolution," he said. He therefore called for a definitive outcome, "so that we see a clear path from this allegation to a clear resolution, and if there are sanctions, let them be applied; if there are exonerations, let those happen."
The controversy surrounding Afenyo-Markin and the allegations of extortion has sparked a heated debate about the need for integrity in leadership. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the public is watching, and Parliament's response will be crucial in restoring trust in the institution.
Source: Joy Online
