Afenyo-Markin's Dance Request Sparks Tensions During Vetting of Justice Minister-Designate

Accra, Ghana - 26 Feb, 2025 - A heated exchange erupted during the vetting of Ghana's Deputy Attorney General and Justice Minister-designate, Justice Srem-Sai, as a disagreement over a dance request sparked tensions between committee members.

The Appointments Committee's Ranking Member, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had asked Justice Srem-Sai to demonstrate a traditional dance, citing the importance of cultural awareness. However, the Chairman deemed the request inappropriate and overruled it, leading to a sharp rebuke from Afenyo-Markin.

The Ranking Member accused the Chairman of being "whimsical and capricious" in his handling of the proceedings, prompting the Chairman to demand a withdrawal of the remarks. Afenyo-Markin refused, leading the Chairman to assert his authority and abruptly end the vetting session.

“Chairman, I won’t withdraw. You rudely overruled me,'' Afenyo-Markin remarked.