Incoming Majority Leader James Agalga has appealed for restraint in the escalating dispute over extortion allegations involving Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, urging all sides to allow the courts and investigative institutions to handle the matter.
The Builsa North Member of Parliament said the controversy had reached a stage where further public exchanges could undermine ongoing legal and institutional processes.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Mr Agalga noted that state agencies had already begun exercising their mandates and argued that the appropriate course was to wait for the outcome of those processes.
“I think that the appropriate institutions of state, law enforcement, etc., have invoked their powers. So I think that we should wait and see. Let’s adopt a wait-and-see approach,” he said.
Mr Agalga, who is a lawyer, declined to comment on the substance of the allegations, citing Mr Afenyo-Markin’s indication that he had commenced legal proceedings.
He said commenting on the merits of the claims could be inappropriate while the matter was potentially before the courts.
The incoming Majority Leader also disclosed that petitions had been submitted to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which has acknowledged that preliminary investigations have commenced.
He said the various processes could ultimately establish whether any of the individuals involved had breached the law or could be held culpable.
“Let’s see, when invitations are extended to the parties involved, they may unravel certain things that should be of interest to all of us,” he said.
Calls for restraint
Mr Agalga said the dispute required a temporary halt to the public exchanges to give investigators and the judiciary the necessary space to conduct their work.
“But for now, I will call for calm and that there should be a ceasefire so that the agencies of the state and the courts can have peace of mind,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that the allegations were serious and had implications beyond the individuals involved because of Mr Afenyo-Markin’s position as Minority Leader.
“Well, it’s quite disturbing, to be very frank with you. So those allegations carry a lot of weight,” he said.
He suggested that the seriousness of the claims may have contributed to Mr Afenyo-Markin’s decision to seek legal redress.
Possible parliamentary scrutiny
Asked whether Parliament itself should investigate the allegations given the senior position occupied by Mr Afenyo-Markin, Mr Agalga pointed to the possibility of the Speaker receiving a formal petition.
He said he could not confirm whether Speaker Alban Bagbin had been officially served with any such petition.
Mr Agalga, however, expressed confidence that Parliament would become aware of the matter if a formal petition reached the Speaker.
“Knowing who Mr Speaker is, I would have no doubts at all that once he gets hold of a petition of that sort, we would know about it,” he said.
The incoming Majority Leader’s comments come as the dispute continues to expand beyond the political arena, with legal proceedings and investigations by state institutions now forming part of the response to the allegations.
He maintained that, for now, the priority should be to lower the temperature and allow the relevant institutions to establish the facts.
