As Bagbin said, if we follow our followers, there won’t be peace in parliament – Afenyo-Markin tells Majority

The Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has told the Majority to calm done and allow the vetting of the ministerial nominees to go on smoothly.

He reminded them that the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had told them that if they follow whatever their constituents or following want them to do then there will be no peace in the House.

To that end, he assured that his side of the House is fully committed to cooperating with the government as it forms its cabinet.

Speaking during the Appointments Committee sitting on Friday, January 31, he said “Our side doesn’t seek to obstruct government business, our side is committed to fully cooperating with the government to form its cabinet and to get all appointments through. we have gone outside the normal time. This is the first time that nominees have been fast-tracked since 1992. As the leader of my side, I have taken full responsibility because I believe that governance is continuous and we should not frustrate it.

“I will also appeal with my colleagues on the other side that just as Mr Speaker told us yesterday if we want to follow our followers, there will be no peace in parliament.”

Chaos erupted during Parliament’s appointments committee sitting on Thursday, January 30.

During proceedings, the Minority and Majority members clashed over the timing of the vetting process.

The opposition lawmakers had made the point that the vetting of Health Minister-designate Kwabena Akandoh and Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Okudzeto Ablakwa should be shifted forward to today, Friday, January 31.

However, the Majority MPs, resisted and insisted that the process continue late in the night, leading to further tension in the chamber.

The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin told the media that “The nominees—where we have to ask them questions, we do. Nothing will stop us from asking the necessary questions. It’s not every nominee; some of their nominees spent five minutes. NDC is always up to intimidating people. They think that they must always bully.”

He further alleged that the Clerk had unilaterally advertised the vetting schedule without prior agreement.

“The Clerk to the Committee is a partisan clerk. She’s a typical NDC member, she agrees with them, and she advertises and informs people to come. On January 29, there was no agreement, no meeting, but at 10:00 pm, she advertised,” he said.