In response to the violent altercations that disrupted the vetting of ministerial nominations on Thursday, January 30, the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has called on Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to abolish the present Appointments Committee.
A disagreement between the Minority and Majority Caucuses turned into violent altercations following the vetting of Samuel Nartey George, Minister-Designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations.
Citing procedural issues and a “unfavorable atmosphere” for a fair evaluation, the Minority called for the vetting procedure to be rescheduled for Friday, January 31.
However, the majority demanded that things go according to plan.
A dispute swiftly descended into chaos, with some Minority MPs attempting to stop the proceedings by smashing microphones and tables.
The vetting session was temporarily suspended after security officers were eventually called in to maintain order.
In response to the events, ACEPA denounced the occurrence and emphasized the necessity of taking prompt measures to stop it from happening again.
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Dr. Rasheed Draman, the Executive Director of ACEPA, questioned the legitimacy of the current Appointments Committee and its capacity to fairly vet President John Dramani Mahama’s cabinet nominees during an appearance on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, January 31.
“If I were to advise the Speaker of Parliament, I would say, look into the rules, dissolve the committee, and set an example. Let those responsible for this chaos face the consequences if the rules allow it. Reconstitute the committee so that vetting can continue, even if it takes weeks,” Dr. Draman stated.
He added that it is improbable that the committee will carry out a comprehensive and equitable vetting procedure given its current makeup.
Many people are worried about how MPs behave and how well parliamentary oversight works as a result of the chaotic vetting session.
As stakeholders demand accountability and professionalism in Ghana’s legislative process, calls are mounting for the Appointments Committee to be reformed and for harsher disciplinary penalties to be implemented.
