The Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has criticised the government for releasing major announcements to the media before informing Parliament.

Expressing his concerns on the floor of the House on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Afenyo-Markin lamented how Parliament has been relegated to a secondary recipient of official government communications.

He emphasised that Parliament, which plays a pivotal role in appointing ministerial nominees, should not be left in the dark regarding official announcements, especially while the media receives exclusive access to such communications.

“In the 8th Parliament under President Akufo-Addo, Rt.Hon. Speaker made a profound observation that matters and communications to the house must first be known to the house before it gets into the media. This house should not be a secondary recipient of that which is its Bonafide,” he said.

The Effutu constituency lawmaker expressed his strong disapproval of the recent happenings, calling on the government to immediately cease such practices with future official communications.

“I do not appreciate the fact that a statement will be issued when parliament has not already received the communication. Parliament should be the first to receive the communication before it gets out into the media and that was the position taken by the Speaker.

“I would want to draw the attention of the executive to this matter especially when the acting spokesperson of the executive is one of our own, my own respected colleague Felix Ofosu Kwakye…” he stated.

Afenyo-Markin’s concerns follow the recent ministerial nominations made by President John Dramani Mahama to key positions.

The first set of ministerial appointments includes the nomination of a Minister of Finance Designate, a Minister of Energy Designate, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Designate.

‘Parliament should be the first to receive the communication before it hits the media’ - Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, criticizes the government for releasing key announcements to the press before informing Parliament.
This follows Mahama's recent ministerial… pic.twitter.com/KlosPDGsId

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