Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe and member of the ministerial vetting committee, Jerry Ahmed Shaib has expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the chaos that erupted in Parliament during the ministerial vetting on January 31, 2024.

Speaking on the Prime Morning show on Joy Prime with Roselyn Felli, the MP recounted the distressing events that led to the violent altercation, stressing that he has been unfairly accused and deeply pained by the incident.

Shaib, who was visibly emotional during the interview, described the events of that day as “regrettable and unfortunate,” adding that propaganda has exaggerated the situation to tarnish his image.

He revealed that the turmoil in Parliament affected him so much that it took his wife, mother, and constituents to calm him down. “I am not a violent person. I have never committed to doing anything physical in my political career,” he emphasized.

However, he explained that he was forced to react when members of the opposition, specifically from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), physically provoked him. According to Shaib, more than three to four NDC MPs attempted to push a table into his lower body, particularly around his scrotum area, leaving him with no choice but to defend himself.

He specifically mentioned that Charles Asiedu, son of Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the NDC, was one of the individuals involved in the act. He pointed out that this was clearly captured in the viral video that has been widely circulated.

Beyond the physical altercation, Shaib expressed deep sadness over the way he has been treated in the aftermath. Lamenting that, he was not given a fair hearing when decisions were being made regarding the incident.

“I feel very sad and pained because I was wrongfully accused. If nothing at all, I was one of the people going around trying to calm tempers when tensions were rising,” he stated.

Despite his frustrations, he maintained that he regrets the entire situation and hopes that such scenes will not repeat themselves in Ghana’s legislative process. He called for truth and fairness in reporting political events, urging the public to look beyond propaganda and see what truly transpired.

The chaos in Parliament on January 31st which sparked widespread debate, with many calling for decorum and discipline among lawmakers. Some have called for Jerry Ahmed to apologize but he insists that the narrative surrounding the incident has been unfairly twisted against him.