Vetting chaos committee suspends sitting indefinitely

The Committee investigating the disruptions during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30, has suspended its proceedings until further notice.

Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Bedzrah, made the announcement, stating that the suspension was in line with directives from the Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror.

Bedzrah explained that the Clerk communicated that the Speaker of Parliament would provide additional instructions on the next steps for the committee’s sessions.

“We’re getting indications from the clerk of Parliament and I want to put it on record that, the clerk of Parliament has instructed that we suspend the sitting until further notice.

“And therefore I want everybody to be aware that it is not the committee that has decided to stop but the clerk to the Parliament of Ghana has requested that until he gets further instruction from the speaker, the committee should suspend sitting.”

The committee was in session when the directive was issued.

The chaos on January 30, 2025, ensued when the Minority resisted the vetting of Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The standoff escalated into a physical clash between MPs, resulting in the destruction of tables and microphones.

Following the incident, four MPs were suspended, prompting the Minority to walk out. This left the Majority to proceed with the vetting of Ablakwa and other nominees on January 31. Notably, the clash occurred after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had already subjected Ablakwa to extensive questioning.

Established by Speaker Alban Bagbin, the committee aims to examine the events surrounding the disruption on January 30, which resulted in a clash between the Minority and Majority over the vetting timing and the destruction of equipment.

The committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, includes members Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui, Abena Osei Asare, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, and Bede Anwataazuma Ziedeng. It has been given a 10-day deadline to report its findings and recommendations.

The committee had created a WhatsApp platform to solicit information from the public.