A Member of Parliament from the minority National Democratic Congress, Mr Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko is reported to have dealt his colleague Sampson Ahi, a hefty slap in the Chamber of the House.

Sampson Ahi, MP for Juabeso and a member of Parliament’s Appointments Committee which is vetting President Kufuor’s nominees for ministerial appointments, had to be escorted away from Tanko, MP for Yagaba/Kubori, whose source of anger was not immediately known.

Sources in the House told myjoyonline.com that Sampson who occupied a swivel chair appeared to have blocked the path of Tanko.
Tanko therefore persisted in getting past his colleague, and when Ahi turned to see who was asking to be allowed to pass, Tanko returned with the swift slap.

Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin is reported to have met the two, while snippets of information gleaned from eye witnesses also point to a complaint likely to be lodged with the Privileges Committee of the House for redress.

Meanwhile the Minority in Parliament has condemned their colleague for his unbecoming act.

In a statement signed by Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Minority described it as "an unfortunate incident," saying it wished to "express its indignation at the unparliamentary conduct of Hon. Ibrahim Rauf Tanko towards Hon. Sampson Ahi...following a misunderstanding between them".

"The Minority wishes to condemn the conduct of the honourable member outright," it said.

"(However) the conduct is being investigated by the leadership as a matter of urgency," the Minority added.

But for the timely intervention of colleague MPs from the minority NDC side, what appeared like an exchange between the two could have escalated into a fight.

Members of both the majority and minority sides were waiting for the arrival of the Speaker when all of a sudden the sound of a slap was heard from the direction of the minority NDC side.

Shortly after the incident, Mr Ibrahim got up went out of the House accompanied by some NDC MPs.

A number of the MPs have expressed utter shock at the incident.