The Minority in staged a walkout on Thursday, July 17, 2025, following criticism from Majority Leader over the manner in which Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin announced the death of former MP Ernest Yaw Kumi in the absence of Speaker .
Ayariga took issue with Afenyo-Markin's decision to communicate the MP's passing without the Speaker present, describing it as a breach of parliamentary protocol and constitutional procedure.
He argued that it is the Speaker's responsibility to formally notify the House of a vacancy, not the Minority Leader. "Are we to treat the communication from the leader of the minority caucus in this House, that our colleague belonging to his side is no more, as a communication that the seat has become vacant?
Because vacancy occurs when the person passes, and there's no doubt about the passing.
