The vetting of Foreign Affairs Minister-nominee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday took an unexpected twist, following a heated exchange between Ranking Member Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor over a directive from the Speaker of Parliament.
As the session extended into the evening, it was revealed that Speaker Alban Bagbin had reconstituted the Appointments Committee, dismissing four members—including sitting MPs—after the chaos that erupted during a late-night parliamentary sitting on Thursday.
Afenyo-Markin objected to proceeding with the vetting, arguing that the Speaker’s decision warranted a temporary suspension to resolve concerns over the committee’s composition, particularly regarding quorum. However, Mahama Ayariga and other National Democratic Congress (NDC) members dismissed his concerns, insisting that the directive had no bearing on quorum requirements.
Chairman Bernard Ahiafor upheld this position, asserting that any Minority MPs dissatisfied with the Speaker’s directive were free to excuse themselves from the proceedings. This statement irked Afenyo-Markin, who demanded a retraction, warning that failure to do so would prompt the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus to withdraw from the session.
Ahiafor remained resolute, interpreting Afenyo-Markin’s response as an indication that he was indeed stepping aside. Following the impasse, the Chairman discharged Okudzeto Ablakwa, bringing the vetting to an abrupt end.
In protest, the Minority Leader and his colleagues walked out, leaving NDC MPs to continue the remaining vetting sessions without them.
SOURCE: Myjoyonline
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