The Minority has walked out of the Appointment Committee tonight following a heated dispute over a directive from the Speaker of Parliament.

This happened during the vetting of Foreign Affairs Minister-nominee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

During the tense session, which stretched into the evening, it emerged that the Speaker had reconstituted the Appointments Committee after dismissing four members, including Members of Parliament, due to the chaos that erupted during a late-night sitting on Thursday.

Ranking Member Alexander Afenyo-Markin raised concerns that the Speaker’s directive fundamentally altered the committee's composition and could affect quorum. He insisted that the vetting process be suspended until a clear decision was reached on the matter.

• Read also: Ablakwa discharged amid Afenyo-Markin’s disagreement with Ahiafor over Speaker’s directive

However, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) member on the committee, Mahama Ayariga, dismissed Afenyo-Markin’s claim, arguing that the Speaker’s order did not impact quorum in any way.

Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor supported this position, adding that any Minority MPs who felt dissatisfied with the decision were free to leave. This remark angered Afenyo-Markin, who demanded a retraction, warning that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus would withdraw from the process if Ahiafor failed to do so.

Mr Ahiafor stood his ground, interpreting Afenyo-Markin’s statement as a formal recusal. He subsequently discharged Ablakwa, bringing the session to an abrupt end.

In protest, the Minority caucus walked out of the proceedings, leaving the NDC MPs to continue with the rest of the vetting sessions.