The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called for greater freedom for Minority Members of Parliament to speak and raise issues on the floor of the House, arguing that democracy functions best when all voices are allowed to be heard.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said parliamentary rules should not be applied in ways that restrict the Minority from effectively performing its constitutional role.
He acknowledged that while the Speaker of Parliament is expected to act impartially, it is also a political reality that the Speaker is a senior figure within his party and may, at times, take decisions that appear to favour the government side.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said he does not support persistent complaints over such situations. Rather, he stressed that the Minority must accept the political context and adopt lawful and strategic means to keep its concerns on the national agenda.
According to him, the Speaker is an experienced and astute politician who previously guided his party through challenging periods in opposition, making it unrealistic to expect unrestricted space for the Minority at all times.
Nonetheless, the Minority Leader emphasised that parliamentary rules must be applied with fairness and sound judgment. He argued that equity should place greater weight on substance than rigid procedure, particularly when issues of national importance are at stake.
For the sake of democratic governance, he said there should be occasions when the rules are applied flexibly to allow the Minority to fully articulate its views.
Mr Afenyo-Markin concluded by stating that even when opportunities are limited, the Minority will continue to make meaningful contributions by using parliamentary rules and procedures responsibly.
