Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has revealed that Emeafa Hardcastle, the Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission, apologized after their recent altercation but questioned the sincerity of her remorse.
According to the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Hardcastle, along with several other women, apologized during a conclave meeting following the incident. However, he later received reports that she made an even more disparaging comment afterward.
“After the apology, I was informed that she had gone on to make an even worse remark. That is why I don’t believe her apology was genuine,” he stated in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
Why the Matter Was Referred to Parliament
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh explained that it was Hardcastle’s actions after her apology that compelled him to escalate the matter to Parliament.
“I had never seen or interacted with her before, so it is shocking to hear people suggest we had prior issues. If I had provoked her in any way, I would not have taken the matter to Parliament,” he clarified.
The Incident and the ‘Micro-Minority’ Comment
The altercation took place on January 28, 2025, during the Appointments Committee’s vetting session for Defence Minister-designate Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
Tensions were already high due to bribery allegations made by political activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor against the committee.
Though the exact cause of the confrontation remains unclear, reports suggest that it was triggered by Hardcastle’s “Micro-Minority” comment, referring to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus. This allegedly led to a heated exchange between her and Mr. Annoh-Dompreh.
Calls for a Public Apology
Hardcastle’s remarks have sparked backlash, with Tamale South MP and Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, urging her to issue a public apology to Parliament to restore decorum.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
Join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakDz4u9RZATWh53yC1a
