Ahiafor was an obstacle to diligent vetting of ministerial nominees – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticized Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, accusing him of hindering the thorough vetting of ministerial nominees.

According to the Minority, Ahiafor’s conduct during the vetting process was overly protective of nominees and highly partisan, depriving the Ghanaian public and Minority members of the committee of the opportunity for comprehensive scrutiny.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North, alleged instances of Ahiafor shouting at committee members, including Abena Osei-Asare, the MP for Atiwa East.

“His actions appeared to shield the nominees and suppress legitimate questions from committee members, effectively fast-tracking the vetting process in a manner that raises serious concerns,” Boako stated.

The Minority described their confrontation with Ahiafor as a direct protest against what they viewed as his obstructive behaviour. Boako stressed that the Appointments Committee is a sub-body of Parliament tasked with ensuring accountability, and its members should not be silenced or denied the chance to thoroughly vet nominees.

He warned that Ahiafor’s approach undermines the committee’s constitutional oversight role and could damage public trust in the democratic process.

“The Majority members on the committee, led by Ahiafor, must work collaboratively to fulfil the committee’s mandate. If such behaviour persists, it risks enabling unqualified individuals to occupy critical positions, which would be detrimental to our democracy,” Boako cautioned.

The Minority reiterated their call for fairness, transparency, and due diligence in the vetting process to safeguard the integrity of governance.