Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has suspended four Members of Parliament for two weeks following the chaotic scenes that disrupted the vetting of President Mahama’s ministerial nominees on Thursday evening.
The suspended MPs are Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, Minority Chief Whip and Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Gushegu MP Hassan Tampuli, and Ablekuma South MP Jerry Ahmed Shaibu.
As a result of their suspension, the Appointments Committee will have four vacant seats, requiring the Committee on Selection to reconstitute its membership to maintain its functionality.
In response to the violent altercation, Speaker Bagbin has also set up a seven-member committee, chaired by Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, to investigate the incident and present recommendations. Additionally, he has directed a review of the rules governing the Appointments Committee to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Further intensifying the response, the Speaker has ordered the Clerk of Parliament to file a formal criminal complaint with the Ghana Police Service for an investigation and potential prosecution of those involved in the fracas.
The chaos erupted when a disagreement over extending the vetting session beyond 10 PM escalated into a physical altercation. The Majority insisted on continuing, while the Minority opposed the move.
During the standoff, some members of the Minority reportedly overturned tables, leading to damage to microphones and other parliamentary equipment. The situation quickly spiraled, forcing security personnel to intervene to restore order and prevent further destruction.
It took over 30 minutes for Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and other senior lawmakers to calm the situation. However, due to the damage to essential equipment and heightened tensions, the committee had no choice but to adjourn the vetting session and reschedule it for the following day.
With investigations now underway and a criminal complaint filed, the incident is expected to have far-reaching implications for parliamentary proceedings going forward.