A heated dispute erupted in Parliament on Monday during the vetting of ministerial nominees, as Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of Bernard Ahiafor, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee.
The controversy began when Mr Afenyo-Markin raised concerns about addressing the appointments of Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors by President John Dramani Mahama, only to be told by the Majority members of the Committee that such discussions were outside the scope of the ministerial vetting process.
The disagreements delayed the vetting of Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, minister-designate for Roads and Highways.
However, a brief five-minute suspension failed to resolve the tensions, with Mr Afenyo-Markin accusing his colleagues on the Committee, including Mr Ahiafor, who is also the Deputy Speaker of Parliament of an alleged “rude behaviour.”
“… Chairman, don’t raise your voice, you suspended sitting for five minutes. You had called me, and I said I was having a meeting with my caucus. I will join you, then the next moment you start. I want to register this protest that you have proceeded in bad faith,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stated.
He further criticised the chairman, saying, “It’s not the understanding we had. I was responding to a point of order, you came in rudely to say you have ruled. Bring down your voice chairman, you are raising your voice. Mr Chairman all your colleagues including you have been rude to me this morning. You have been very rude,” he added.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Effutu, further complained about being interrupted, saying, “The rate at which I’m being interrupted is unacceptable. The chairman rudely interrupted me.”
Following objections to the Minority Leader’s outburst, he apologised to the Chair. The incident highlighted the growing tensions between the Majority and Minority in Parliament, with concerns over the vetting process and the appointments of key officials.
Latest Stories
-
Ministerial vetting: Some MPs behave as if they’ve ‘drunk something’ – Battor Mankrado
3 hours -
Commander Sabina Dennison takes command of Ghana Navy Supply Base in Takoradi
7 hours -
Bimbilla SHS students struggle amidst severe water crisis
7 hours -
Mahama working to bring Mali, others back to ECOWAS – Ablakwa
10 hours -
Ashaiman military brutality: Battor Mankrado urges Mahama to hold perpetrators accountable
10 hours -
Kantamanto, Techiman markets bounce back after devastating fire outbreak
10 hours -
Security arrangement to be ‘standardized’ going forward – DCOP Lydia Donkor
10 hours -
Miguel Jiménez crowned champion of 49th Hassan II Golf Trophy
10 hours -
At least 30 missing after China landslide
11 hours -
Mustapha Gbande’s appointment sparks excitement among NDC’s grassroot
12 hours -
Judge blocks Musk team access to Treasury Department records
12 hours -
England’s Cara Gainer wins 2025 Lalla Meryem Cup in thrilling play-Off
12 hours -
Luv FM hosts successful 2025 edition of health walk in Kumasi
12 hours -
Gov’t suspends National Roads Authority Act for broader stakeholder consultations
13 hours -
BCI re-iterates calls on government to include cancer patients in LEAP program
13 hours