On July 14, 2025, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader of Parliament, stirred up controversy in Parliament with remarks he made regarding Professor Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan.
While making a submission, the Effutu MP insisted that Prof. Ayensu was out of order and asked her to sit down.
The MP was reprimanded by an obviously irritated Afenyo-Markin, who claimed that since she was a new member of Parliament, she should act appropriately and refrain from interjecting when a leader was speaking.
Prof. Ayensu was further criticized by Afenyo-Markin, who questioned why she had been appointed as a minister in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government while prominent party members, like Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the MP for Klottey Korle, had not been taken into account.
“My colleague, your name is not even on the list yet.
We have only heard rumors that you will be facing the Appointments Committee, and this is what you choose to be doing?
“You came to meet Dr Zanetor here, and for some strange reason, it appears your name is being considered when even party stalwarts like Helen Ntoso are still waiting. And yet you want to be raising points of order while your leader is speaking?” Afenyo-Markin said.
The remarks were not well received by Prof. Ayensu, who is also the deputy minister of health-designate. She called the comments made by Afenyo-Markin in Parliament insulting and discriminating against women.
“There are only 14% of women in this House, and some of these statements are very discouraging,” she stated in response to the Speaker. I was just getting up and waited for you to see me when I was unjustly attacked.
Mr. Speaker, when we encounter passive-aggressive conduct and disguised threats, it is extremely challenging for women to speak up.
Since I did nothing to merit such treatment, I humbly ask that a portion of the statement be removed from the records because it insulted me.
Prof. Ayensu emphasized that she had not in any way provoked Afenyo-Markin and called on Parliament to support a more welcoming and courteous atmosphere for female Members of Parliament.
