Minority Leader calls for independent legal counsel to strengthen African Parliaments

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for greater independence of parliamentary legal counsel, warning that Parliament’s ability to perform its constitutional functions is undermined when it relies on the executive arm of government for legal opinions.

He argued that parliamentary legal counsel must be sufficiently autonomous to provide candid advice on constitutional and procedural matters without undue influence from the executive or partisan political interests.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th Africa Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments at Accra City Hotel on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that the legislature must have access to independent, professional and impartial legal advice to effectively scrutinise government actions and uphold constitutional principles.