Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has declined a request from Okaikwei Central MP Patrick Yaw Boamah to be removed from Ghana’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament.
Boamah, who had been added to the delegation as an observer, raised concerns in a memo to the Speaker, questioning the basis of his designation and referencing the agreed formula for selection by the Minority Caucus.
“Speaker, I respectfully write to formally withdraw from the reconstituted list of Ghana’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament as an Observer, as adopted by the House in a resolution on Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025, as evidenced in the copy of the attached votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025,” he wrote.
He explained that, according to the Pan-African Parliament Secretariat, observers are restricted in their participation:
“Mr. Speaker, my checks with the Pan-African Parliament Secretariat indicate that Observers are not permitted to participate at plenary or in committee meetings. Observers are only permitted to attend upon meeting.”
Boamah also argued that, by the established formula for committees and delegations, he is entitled to be a full member. The Minority Caucus is allocated two representatives, following the 68:32 ratio used for parliamentary committee assignments and ECOWAS Parliament delegation selections.
“Mr. Speaker, under the established formula for committees and delegations, my inclusion is by right, as the Minority Caucus is entitled to two representatives. The 68:32 ratio, which guided the allocation of committee memberships equally, applied in constituting the ECOWAS Parliament delegation,” he maintained.
The MP said he opted to withdraw as an observer to avoid “any potential embarrassment to the Parliament of Ghana and Ghanaians as a whole.”
The current Ghanaian delegation to the Pan-African Parliament is led by First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, with Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Collins Dauda, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and Frank Annoh-Dompreh as full members. Boamah had been designated as an observer.
In response, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged Boamah’s concerns but insisted that Parliament’s resolution remains binding. He emphasised that any changes would require a substantive motion.
“As you are aware, the composition of Ghana’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament was duly adopted by the plenary, following the established procedures of the House. Once Parliament has passed a resolution, it becomes binding, and any variation to that decision must be effected through a formal motion brought before the House. Until such a motion is considered and adopted, the resolution remains in force,” Bagbin said.
Boamah’s withdrawal leaves the Minority with only one representative in the delegation, a move that the Minority argues violates the agreed ratio. Citi News has learned that NPP MPs are dissatisfied, claiming that the Speaker is unfairly assisting the Majority in using its numbers to override due process.
This is reportedly the first instance in the history of the Pan-African Parliament that the Minority Caucus has been represented by only a single member.
For the Minority, the dispute is not simply about representation but about rights. The two-seat allocation is guaranteed, and anything less is viewed as a breach. They contend that the Speaker’s stance effectively endorses the Majority’s action, denying the Minority full participation in Ghana’s delegation.