The Minority in Parliament yesterday staged a walkout during the vetting of Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in protest of a directive issued by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
The Minority’s action followed a call by its leader, Afenyo-Markin, to suspend proceedings after the committee had spent more than five hours questioning Ablakwa. The Effutu MP’s plea was anchored on Speaker Bagbin’s directive to reconstitute the Appointments Committee due to the chaos that disrupted proceedings the previous day.
The Speaker had earlier suspended four MPs—Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson-Dafeamekpor (South Dayi), Gushegu MP Alhassan Tampuli, and Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe)—for their roles in the disturbances. Notably, except for Tampuli, all the suspended MPs were members of the Appointments Committee.
Despite the Speaker’s directive, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga clarified that after engaging with the Speaker, the committee’s reconstitution meeting had been rescheduled for the following Monday. He argued that the committee remained properly constituted and could proceed with its work.
A bid by Deputy Minority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu to play an audio recording of the Speaker’s directive was dismissed by the committee’s chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, who ruled that proceedings should continue. In response, Ranking Member Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin recused himself, citing the Speaker’s directive, before leading the Minority members in a walkout.
Despite their absence, the committee proceeded with the vetting of other nominees, including Minister of State-designate in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
By the end of the day, all 10 nominees vetted—including Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa—were recommended for approval by consensus.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
