Bernard Ahiafor is Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament
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A political analyst at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, has blamed the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament for the confusion that ensued at their sitting Thursday night.

During the vetting of ministerial nominees on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the Minority caucus representation on the Appointments Committee objected to the continuous screening of the Ministers-designate for Health and Foreign Affairs, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

They had argued that the Committee was scheduled to vet three nominees which was increased to five upon the Chairman’s plea with members.

However, they indicated that the Chairman sought to bring in more nominees after the agreed number was reached, hoping that the Minority was going to boycott the process.

This resulted in chaos at the meeting where the Minority members broke down one of the tables that were being used, and also damaged six microphones being used for the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, who is the Ranking Member on the Committee, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, had spent three hours on one nominee, Samuel Nartey George, the Minister-designate for Communication. This, is what many believe caused unnecessary delay at the vetting.

Speaking on Ghana Tonight after the clash between the two caucuses, the political analyst indicated that it is the Speaker’s magnanimity that led to the chaos in the House, leading to the Minority caucus destroying assets at the cost of the tax payer.

He described the deed of the Minority as unfortunate, adding that it deserves to be condemned as such.

Dr. Asante Otchere believes it is the Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, who is also the First Deputy Speaker, that allowed such acts to fester with his unqualified generosity that warranted Afenyo-Markin an unfettered access to single-handedly spend three hours on a single nominee.

“It is quite embarrassing, it is very appalling that we keep witnessing this sort of thing at the vetting committee level. I think it is quite unfortunate that we have gotten to this level. And it is because of the magnanimity of the Chairman that all these things have come about.

“Because I have listened to all sides and I think that the minority, so to speak, inasmuch as they might have compromised along the way, I think what they have done is very unpardonable. They will have to be condemned in no uncertain terms,” he stated.

VIDEO: Confusion erupts among members of Appointments Committee over vetting of Akandoh and Ablakwa