Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has disclosed that he and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga have been pursuing the Speaker of Parliament for talks over his decision to suspend four MPs.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has suspended four MPs for two weeks following a chaotic incident that occurred during Thursday’s sitting of the Appointments Committee.

The suspended MPs are the Chief Whips for both the Minority and Majority caucuses, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor and Frank Annoh-Dompreh, as well as Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli and Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has also set up a committee to probe the incident.

The suspension comes after an incident that the Speaker described as an embarrassment to the institution of Parliament.

Speaker Bagbin has directed the Parliamentary Marshal to prevent the suspended MPs from entering the chamber for the period.

The decision was made in light of the disorder that occurred during the vetting of ministerial nominees, which disrupted the smooth conduct of the committee’s work. Tables and microphones were broken in the process, with some MPs nearly exchanging blows.

At a news conference on Monday, Mr Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority caucus of being “bullies” but indicated “we will never be bullied.”

He also indicated that Minority MPs do not feel safe and have now had to “beef up” their security.