Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has suspended four Members of Parliament (MPs) for two weeks following violent clashes during a ministerial vetting session on Thursday, 30 January, 2025.
The suspended MPs are Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi), Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NDC, Weija-Gbawe).
As confirmed by GhanaWeb’s George Ayisi, a special parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been tasked with investigating the incident and submitting a report within 10 days.
Speaker Bagbin also directed the Clerk of Parliament to file a formal complaint with the Ghana Police Service for a criminal probe into the conduct of MPs involved.
He further declared that no public funds will repair damaged parliamentary property and that MPs found culpable will be surcharged for repairs.
What happened?
The fracas occurred during the vetting of Minister of Health-designate Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The Minority caucus accused the Majority of violating an agreement to vet only two nominees per day, sparking heated exchanges.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations, with microphones and furniture destroyed, and the vetting table overturned.
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Meanwhile, watch the livestream of the vetting of the Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa below: