News
Deputy Minority Leader declines ECOWAS Parliament nomination, cites lack of consultation
The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, madam Patricia Appiagyei, has turned down her nomination to represent Ghana at the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a memorandum directed to the Speaker Alban Bagbin, she said the decision to include her was made without her knowledge or consent, and described it as a calculated attempt to replace the Minority Leader while creating division within the caucus.
This follows concerns raised by the Majority Leader in Parliament on Tuesday , July 22, 2025.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga argued that the ECOWAS Parliament was pushing for 30 percent female representation hence it was customary for deputy minority leaders to be part of the delegation.
He therefore suggested that madam Appiagyei replaces Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin in the newly reconstituted list.
This notwithstanding, madam Appiagyei, in a memo to the speaker, said she was not consulted and had never agreed to replace her leader.
The deputy minority leader revealed that she was surprised that such a proposal was made in her absence and that of the minority leader.
According to her, there had been a clear understanding that Afenyo-Markin would continue serving on the ECOWAS Parliament, and this had been communicated to the committee of selection.
She described the move as procedurally wrong and legally flawed.
Madam Appiagyei explained that Afenyo-Markin had been sworn in as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament and later elected Deputy Speaker.
She said under ECOWAS law, a member’s term lasts four years unless they resign, leave Parliament, or become ineligible.
Since none of those conditions apply, she believes there is no justification for his removal.
She added that replacing him without proper cause would breach ECOWAS statutes and Ghana’s parliamentary procedures.
While supporting the call for more women in regional bodies, she called for due process to be followed.
“Using gender parity as a reason for irregular decisions undermines both the goal and the integrity of Parliament,” she noted.
She officially declined the nomination and urged that her name be removed from the list sent to ECOWAS.
She also asked the Clerk of Parliament not to communicate any resolution that includes her name.
She called for the original list of nominees to be maintained to preserve unity in the house and avoid public embarrassment.
The original nominees include Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, and Bryan Acheampong.
Jacob Aggrey
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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