Audio By Carbonatix
The vetting of the Deputy Minister nominee for Justice and Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, ended abruptly after a disagreement between the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, and the Minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
What began as a routine question about his culture took a tense turn when the conversation shifted from routine questioning to a cultural matter.
This occurred when the Minority leader asked the nominee to display a cultural dance from his heritage.
This compelled the Chairman to overrule the question posed to the nominee by the Minority leader.
"Honorable nominee the question is over ruled, you are not going to answer that question," the Chairman overruled.
The Minority leader then countered the Chairman's action, terming it as "whimsical" and "capricious".
"Chairman, if you decide to be whimsical and capricious, it will not advance the work of this committee. Apart from the constitutional issues involved, it is also about our culture, we have had nominees speaking their dialect here," the Minority leader remarked.
"Honourable Minority Leader, I take offence from the fact that you are saying that I am being whimsical and capricious, so I will urge upon you to withdraw those words you used," Mr Ahiafor said.
Afenyo-Markin remained adamant on his decision not to withdraw his remarks.
"Chairman, I will not withdraw, you were whimsical and capricious in the way you overruled my question," he retorted.
"You will not demonstrate any dance! This is not a demonstration forum, this is the Appointments Committee. So I insist that you withdraw the word that I am being whimsical and capricious," the Chairman stated.
Afenyo-Markin further described the action of the Chairman as a "rude" one which forced the Chairman to end the vetting process of the nominee abruptly.
"Chairman, I will not withdraw, I am sorry, I will not withdraw, you rudely over ruled me," Afenyo-Markin said
"Well, to demonstrate to you that I am the chairman of this particular committee, that may be your last question," Mr Ahiafor concluded.
In response to the Chairman's decision to terminate the vetting of the nominee, the Minority leader announced a rejection of the nominee's nomination and also a boycott of the rest of the day's vetting.
Latest Stories
-
I am tired of being in opposition, my goal is to win in 2028 – Boakye Agyarko
3 minutes -
Ghana’s road maintenance funding gap deepens as only 37% of needs met – World Bank
3 minutes -
Roland Europe Group appoints Opoku Sanaa as Head of Sales, Middle East & Africa
5 minutes -
Sammyflex TV’s Roland Amartey girds up for 2026 Ghana Music Awards UK coverage
17 minutes -
U.S. bank queried payments for Ghana ambassador’s residence renovated by company owned by embassy’s IT officer
36 minutes -
GoldBod to generate US$1.4bn in FX in September
53 minutes -
GAF 2026/2027 enlistment opens September 3 for degree holders
54 minutes -
Reparatory justice: Mahama announces high-level UN side event in September
1 hour -
Bosome Freho Assembly invests first tranche Common Fund in water and education projects for 19 rural communities
1 hour -
YIPs Ghana honours 5 outstanding students at 2026 Tertiary Achievers Awards
1 hour -
NSMQ 2026: TAMASCO triumphs over St. Hubert and Labone to clinch ticket to the semi-finals
1 hour -
US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks
1 hour -
Non-interest banking will not replace conventional banking – Dr Johnson Asiama
1 hour -
Non-interest banking products available to everyone, not just Muslims – Asiama
1 hour -
Dolly Parton laid to rest alongside husband in Nashville
1 hour