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Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has publicly apologised to Deputy Minister-Designate for Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, following widespread backlash over earlier comments that questioned the basis of her nomination.
The apology came during Dr. Ayensu-Danquah’s appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, where Afenyo-Markin seized the opportunity to address the controversy head-on.
His previous remarks, made during a parliamentary debate, were interpreted by many as casting doubt on the merit of her nomination—suggesting it was influenced by “strange reasons.” The phrase was widely condemned, with some seeing it as a veiled reference to perceived favouritism over other female MPs, including Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
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The comments sparked criticism both within Parliament and among gender equity advocates, who viewed the remarks as dismissive of women’s achievements in public office and symptomatic of deeper challenges facing women in politics.
During the vetting, Afenyo-Markin took a conciliatory tone:
“I want to say to you that to the extent that, as a colleague, we play, we relate very formally and informally, and at that moment unbeknownst to me, you felt I had crossed the red line, I say to you I’m sorry. Is that fair?”
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, graciously accepted the apology:
“That is fair, and I’m very appreciative that you have taken this opportunity to apologise. And I hope that moving forward, we will have a better relationship. And I’m very grateful and humbled. Thank you.”
The civil exchange helped defuse what could have been a tense session, allowing the vetting to proceed smoothly.
Beyond the immediate controversy, the incident has reignited conversations around the representation of women in governance. Despite some gains, women currently constitute just 14.5% of Ghana’s Parliament—far below the global average and the 30% benchmark long advocated by gender equity campaigners.
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