Wednesday, February 19, 2025

NPP Caucus to boycott vetting chaos committee?

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The Minority Caucus has expressed their disagreement over the Speaker's decision The Minority Caucus has expressed their disagreement over the Speaker’s decision

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament is likely to boycott the ad-hoc committee constituted by the Speaker of Parliament to investigate the chaos that characterized the activities of the Appointments Committee on Thursday, January 30, and Friday, January 31, 2025.

According to the NPP Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, John Darko, the Minority Caucus must boycott the committee, which he describes as illegal.

“I believe our members will not join; our members are not going to be part of this illegality,” he told JoyNews.

“When you speak to the NDC members, ask them: what authority does the Speaker have to set up a committee? Apart from Order 362, there is no provision that gives the Speaker the authority to set up a committee,” he added.

He explained that, per the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Speaker lacks the mandate to unilaterally establish such a committee.

He further emphasised that the only way such a committee can be constituted is through a motion raised by a leader from either side of the House, seconded by the House, and then approved by the Speaker.

“The Speaker is not the House, and there hasn’t been any motion. A Speaker, on his own, cannot set up a committee,” he stated.

The chaos erupted on January 30, 2025, when Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Appointments Committee overturned tables and destroyed microphones during the vetting process of the Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The Minority opposed the inclusion of Okudzeto and Mintah Akandoh in the vetting process for the day, arguing that the agreed number of nominees had been exceeded.

In an attempt to resist, Minority MPs overturned tables and damaged microphones, leading to a heated altercation between both sides.

Footage from the scene captured MPs engaged in confrontations, with South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor seen exchanging words with a colleague.

Following the chaos, Speaker Alban Bagbin suspended four MPs who played key roles in the incident and announced the formation of a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter.

The suspended MPs are:

Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri)

Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi)

Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu)

Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NDC, Weija-Gbawe)

Meanwhile, the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Emmanuel Bedzrah, at a press briefing on Monday, February 3, 2025, following a preliminary meeting of the committee, confirmed the full participation of all committee members.

He further announced that the committee is open to receiving evidence from the public and will engage the services of a forensic expert to analyze, authenticate, and validate submitted evidence.

The chairman also confirmed that the committee will conduct a public hearing as part of the investigation, starting Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

GA/MA

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