Annor-and-Emeafa-scaled

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is scheduled to meet with the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Commission, Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle, today, January 30. The meeting comes after a heated confrontation between Ms. Hardcastle and the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, during a sitting of the Appointments Committee.

The altercation reportedly occurred on Tuesday, January 28, during the vetting of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah as Defense Minister-Designate. According to sources, a verbal exchange between Ms. Hardcastle and Annoh-Dompreh escalated, leading to tensions within the committee. The details of the dispute remain unclear, but it has since generated discussions within parliamentary and political circles.

Annoh-Dompreh Petitions Speaker Over Incident

Following the incident, Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, formally petitioned Speaker Bagbin, urging him to intervene. He requested the Speaker to issue “consequential orders” before the establishment of the Privileges Committee, which is responsible for investigating cases of misconduct or breaches of parliamentary rules.

The Minority Chief Whip expressed dissatisfaction over the exchange, alleging that Ms. Hardcastle’s conduct was an “unprovoked attack” on his reputation as a legislator. While specific details of his petition have not been disclosed, sources indicate that Annoh-Dompreh views the matter as serious enough to warrant urgent parliamentary attention.

Speaker Bagbin’s Response and Next Steps

In response, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured Parliament that he would meet with Ms. Hardcastle before any formal steps are taken. The meeting is expected to be held behind closed doors and will provide an opportunity for the Speaker to hear Ms. Hardcastle’s side of the story before deciding on the appropriate course of action.

The controversy surrounding this incident has fueled discussions about decorum in parliamentary proceedings and the conduct of individuals appearing before the Appointments Committee. The Privileges Committee, which would typically handle such issues, is yet to be constituted, leaving the resolution of the matter in the hands of the Speaker for now.

Parliament and political observers will be closely monitoring the outcome of today’s meeting, as it could set the tone for how similar incidents are handled in the future.

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