The vetting of ministerial nominees resumed on Friday, but proceedings quickly descended into chaos as Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) stormed the Appointments Committee hearing, accusing the clerk of bias.
The session began with the Minister-designate for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, appearing before a committee dominated by Majority MPs due to the absence of the Minority. However, about five minutes after Akandoh took his oath, Minority MPs entered the room, visibly agitated.
They alleged that the clerk had failed to notify them of the vetting’s commencement, an act they deemed unfair. Their protest sparked a heated exchange, with the Majority side responding to their chants. The tension in the room has led to a deadlock, stalling the process once again.
Vetting suspended after the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stormed in and angrily accused the clerk of initiating vetting without consulting the minority.#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/py3Ieww9O8
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 31, 2025
This latest standoff comes in the wake of Thursday’s chaotic session, where a disagreement over extending the sitting past 10 PM led to a violent clash. In the commotion, tables were overturned, and microphones were broken, prompting police intervention.
Civil society group One Ghana Movement has since condemned the destruction of state property and called for legal action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to face the committee later in the day, but with tensions still high, it remains unclear how the rest of the vetting will proceed.
