Minority MPs Protest Speaker Bagbin’s “Micro-Minority” Comment

Tensions flared in Parliament on Wednesday, January 8, as minority MPs strongly objected to Speaker Alban Bagbin’s description of their caucus as a “micro-minority.”

The remark, made during a parliamentary session, sparked immediate discontent among opposition members, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin leading the protest.

Addressing the Speaker, Afenyo-Markin stated, “Mr. Speaker, we do not have any micro minority. The minority caucus hereby protests the description given to us by Mr. Speaker.”

Afenyo-Markin reminded the Speaker of the minority caucus’s critical role in his election to the high office, emphasising their solidarity during challenging times.

“Mr. Speaker, we seconded the motion for your election. When the so-called majority was conspiring against you, we protested and stopped them. Mr. Speaker, it was us—the minority of conscience,” he asserted, highlighting the caucus’s significant contributions.

The minority leader argued that the term “micro-minority” was not only inappropriate but also dismissive of their contributions and stature within the legislature.

Instead, he urged the Speaker to address them simply as the “minority semplicità,” a term he suggested conveys their essence without diminishing their importance.

The term “micro-minority” appears to reference the slim numerical margin between the minority and majority caucuses in Parliament.

However, the opposition MPs took issue with what they perceive as a dismissive characterisation of their position, particularly given their role in shaping legislative discourse and decisions.

As of the end of the session, Speaker Bagbin had not issued a formal response to the protest.

However, the incident underscores the often-contentious nature of parliamentary debates and the sensitivity of terms used in addressing members.