The Member of Parliament for Atebubu Amanten, in the Bono East Region, Hon. Sanja Nanja, has strongly and emphatically condemned the chaotic scenes that erupted during the vetting of ministerial nominees in Ghana’s 9th Parliament.
The Appointments Committee meeting descends into confusion as Minority and Majority members clash over the timing of the vetting process.
Chaos erupted in Ghana's parliament late on Thursday night, with lawmakers destroying furniture, and pushing and shoving each other.
Police were called into the meeting held to vet Ghana's new ministerial appointments as MPs damaged tables and microphones.
The vetting committee had disagreed over a number of issues, with some accusing opposition MPs of dragging out the process in order to settle political scores.
The cross party committee had been scheduled to vet three lawmakers from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The trio had been nominated for ministerial positions after the NDC triumphed over the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in December's elections.
However, NDC MPs accused Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the NPP's leader in parliament, of questioning the ministerial nominees for an unnecessarily long time.
More than five hours were spent on vetting just one nominee communications minister designate Samuel Nartey George.
Many NDC MPs believe this was a form of payback from opposition MPs on the committee, who wanted George to retract his criticism of former president and NPP leader Nana Akufo Addo and Akufo Addo's Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia.
Members of the vetting committee ended up on their feet shouting, pushing and shoving each other and upturning tables.
He accused the NDC of trying to "frustrate" this process.
In an exclusive interview with Apiah-Kubi on Fabea FM's "Me Man Ho Dadwen", he described the conduct of some of the committee members as a disgrace to Ghana’s democratic principles, stating that their actions undermine the integrity of the democratic state and erode public trust in leadership.
"I decried the destruction and the disorderly conduct displayed during the vetting process as unacceptable and I Condemned it", the legislature stated.
“All MPs should bow down their heads in shame, as access to competence, integrity, and experience to public office is enshrined to foster transparency, safeguard national interests, and strengthen public confidence in governance. However, the events of January 30 failed to reflect these ideals,” he bemoaned.
As a result, the Speaker of parliament suspended four lawmakers three from the NPP and one from the governing party for two weeks.
The incident, which led to the stricter decision by the speaker of parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin to suspend 4 members of parliament has been endorsed by Hon. Sanja Nanja, the Member of Parliament for Atebubu Amanten.
On Friday, the NPP's Afenyo-Markin said parliamentary customs allowed committee members "the opportunity to enquire deeply into every nominee of the president, without limit to questions".
On Friday morning the vetting committee's chairman apologised to the Ghanaian public, calling it "totally unacceptable".
As a result of the chaos, the vetting ended up being adjourned until Friday.
Minority MPs argue that the vetting of Health Minister-designate Kwabena Akandoh and Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Okudzeto Ablakwa should be postponed until tomorrow, Friday, January 31.
He stated that the speaker made the right decision in suspending the four MPs.
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