Tensions flared during the vetting of Supreme Court Justice nominee Hafisata Amaleboba as Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin engaged in a heated exchange with Appointments Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor over questions on presidential sanctions.

The confrontation erupted after Mr Afenyo-Markin pressed Justice Amaleboba on whether President John Mahama’s financial penalties against ministers who failed to declare assets encroached on the constitutional mandate of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

The nominee had earlier stated she saw “no usurpation” in the President’s actions, arguing that administrative fines did not conflict with CHRAJ’s role.

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Dissatisfied with her response, Alexander Afenyo-Markin rephrased his question, demanding clarity on potential constitutional risks.

But Chairman Ahiafor intervened, ruling that the question had already been answered and directing the Minority Leader to move on.

The visibly angered Minority Leader shot back: “Please, Chairman, if you want to find a way to stop this vetting, I will yield to you. Stop what you are doing. The whole country is watching you!”

He accused Ahiafor of strategic interference, warning that the move would “haunt this house” in the future.

"I've seen it all this drama. But whatever the precedence, if not four years, 12 years, 20 years, it will come back and haunt this house. No problem. If you are strategically planning that a Supreme Court nominee should not go through this thing, so be it. But this question is not out of order. I'm putting a question. Please pay attention to my question... Pay attention to the question I'm asking... I'm not saying the same thing. For the avoidance of doubt, I repeat my question. What are the constitutional risks…"

But Mr Ahiafor would have none of that and stood his ground: "The public is not only watching me, it is watching all of us, and the jury will be out."

"I’m a man with an indomitable spirit. I still rule that the question has been asked, the nominee will not answer this question again."