On July 8, 2025, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor was overseeing parliamentary procedures when First Deputy Minority Whip of Parliament Habib Iddrisu reminded him that he was elected to the House and was not there by mistake.
While voicing his opinions in the chamber, he made it clear that he could not be intimidated.
He claims he has every right to voice his thoughts without fear of retaliation because he is an elected Member of Parliament (MP).
His remarks came after a contentious discussion about the dispatch box’s use in the chamber.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, had gone to the dispatch box to ask Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Agribusiness, an urgent inquiry.
However, when Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, voiced concerns and attempted to block him, citing due process and the standing procedures controlling the use of the dispatch box, pandemonium broke out, making it impossible to interpret his query.
As the dispute heated up, additional participants joined in, including Habib Iddrisu, the Northern Region’s Member of Parliament for the Tolon Constituency.
He argued, “Mr. Speaker, we made an application to you to the effect that you, as the Presiding Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, did rule that we on this side can use this dispatch box, it belongs to us.”
Habib was contested by Ahiafor, who had previously requested that he rescind his claim and disclaimed that he had never rendered such a decision in the house.
He also issued a warning, saying that if Habib did not provide the record of his purported decision, the House’s rules will be applied.
“But you were the one presiding when the incident happened, and you finally allowed him to ask the question. That is the basis of my claim.
“But if it doesn’t constitute a ruling, I take that back. Mr.Speaker, I’m an elected member of this House. I cannot be threatened. I didn’t come here by accident I was elected.
So, if I make an application, I shouldn’t be threatened that the rules will be invoked against me.
“The most important thing is that if that was not a ruling, I take it back. But you were the one presiding when that incident happened, and then you allowed him to ask the question.”Afenyo-Markin sparks uproar in Parliament.
