Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, has issued a stern warning to the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stating that he will be referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee if he fails to render an unqualified apology to Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, the Clerk of the Appointments Committee.
The Effutu MP, in an outburst captured live on television, accused the Clerk of partisanship, alleging that she was working in favour of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
His comments, which he reiterated in multiple press conferences and media interviews, reportedly sparked a heated altercation among committee members, forcing the suspension of the vetting process that day.
Reacting to the incident during an interview on Accra-based Joy News on Monday, the Akatsi South MP Bernard Ahiafor described Afenyo-Markin’s attack as “very reckless, very needless, and uncalled for,” stressing that such conduct was unbecoming of a Member of Parliament.
“A Member of Parliament cannot behave in that manner. Yes, he should join me in apologizing to the Clerk of the Committee. If he takes advantage of the opportunity, there will be no need to refer him to Privileges. If he fails to do so, then we will follow the rules, and whatever is applicable will be enforced,” Ahiafor stated.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has already suspended four MPs involved in the altercation and directed the Clerk to lodge a formal complaint with the police.
Despite the controversy, Afenyo-Markin has received strong backing from the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has accused Speaker Bagbin of acting autocratically by suspending three of its MPs. The party described the move as unacceptable, claiming it undermines their ability to hold the government accountable.
Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee is set to reconvene soon for the vetting of deputy ministerial nominees, expected to be announced by President John Mahama in the coming days.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
