afenyo-markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has alleged that the Clerk of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, is biased towards the National Democratic Congress (NDC), following heated exchanges between the Majority and Minority caucuses during the vetting of ministerial nominees.

The confrontation arose during the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as both sides clashed over whether to proceed with the session or reschedule it. Addressing journalists after the session, Afenyo-Markin accused the Clerk of working in favor of the NDC, claiming she made unilateral decisions without consensus.

Allegations of Bias

“The nominees—where we have to ask them questions, we do. Nothing will stop us from asking the necessary questions. It’s not every nominee; some of their nominees spent five minutes. NDC is always up to intimidating people. They think that they must always bully.

“We will not accept any bullying. They can call us micro-minority, they can say whatever they want to say. We have been cooperating with them. The Clerk to the Committee is a partisan clerk. She’s a typical NDC member, she agrees with them and she advertises and informs people to come. January 29, there was no agreement, no meeting, and at 10 p.m., she advertises,” he stated.

Session Disrupted Amid Calls for Rescheduling

The controversy erupted when the Minority proposed postponing the vetting to Friday, citing concerns over procedural fairness. However, the Majority strongly opposed the request, insisting that the process continue as planned.

The standoff escalated into chaos, with some Minority members reportedly disrupting the session by breaking tables and microphones in protest. Despite the disorder, the Majority remained firm in their decision to proceed.

In response to the situation, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga intervened, suspending the vetting and officially rescheduling it for Friday, January 31.

The incident highlights the growing tensions within Parliament as both sides remain locked in a struggle over the vetting process and broader governance issues.

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *