Fracas in Parliament was 'Needless and Uncalled For' - Ahiafor

Accra, Ghana - 04 Feb, 2025 - Chairman of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, has sharply condemned the violent clash between Minority and Majority Members of Parliament on January 30, describing it as "needless" and "uncalled for".

The incident occurred ahead of the vetting of two ministerial nominees, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

In an interview on Channel One Tv, Ahiafor questioned why he should be expected to intervene in the fracas stating, 

“Whatever happened, I apologised the following day to Ghanaians, but it was needless, it was uncalled for. This is not the first time that parliament would be vetting nominees deep into the night, sometimes we close after 12:am, and after 1:00pm. We have experienced that in this particular country.

“So, why are we creating this impression as if that Thursday [January 30], was the day that we were going to vet nominees beyond 8pm, so it was plainly uncalled for.''

“Why am I expected by Ghanaians to take part in the fight? I don’t see the need for the fight in the first place, let alone talk about separating,'' he added.

In the aftermath of the incident, four MPs were suspended for two weeks, namely; Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, the Minority Chief whip and two other Minority MPs, Jerry Shaib Ahmed and Alhassan Sulemana Tampulo.

 A seven-member committee has been established to investigate the matter. The committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, will conduct public hearings and identify those responsible for the disruptions.

Source: Lead News Online