Saturday, 01 February

‘Ablakwa was forcing his way to take his seat’: Minority recalls what led to chaos in vetting committee room on Jan. 30

Politics
Alexander Afenyo-Markin (MP)

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus of Parliament has noted what led to the confusion and chaos that marred the vetting of ministerial nominees last night, Thursday, January 30, 2025.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who doubles as the Co-Chairman of the Appointments Committee in charge of the vetting, said there was an “attempt by the Majority to disregard pre-sitting agreements on a number of nominees to appear before the appointments committee.

“Indeed, this is what led to last night’s situation.”

He said there was an agreement to vet three nominees on the fateful day. However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus “changed it to four, we agreed.

“And later requested for a fifth nominee. Only to realise that after the fifth nominee, the NDC had smuggled Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa into the committee room.”

Afenyo-Markin said Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister-designate was “forcing his way to take his seat”.

He said there were even regional ministers-designate “who had not been programmed but they’d forced them into the committee sitting room”.

“Their plan was to use their so-called super Majority to intimidate us,” the Efutu MP said.

He admonished, strongly, “The NDC must know here and now that they won an election, and that election they won, they are to govern together with us.

“We’re not going to boycott any proceedings. Boycott is not part of us. We will stay in and protest and they will not have their way.”

Afenyo-Markin spoke to the media today, Friday, January 31.

Source: classfmonline.com