Vetting chaos was shameful and embarrassing – Okudzeto Ablakwa

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has condemned the chaos that unfolded during the Appointments Committee sittings on January 30, calling it shameful and embarrassing.

In his testimony before the Parliamentary Committee on Friday, February 7, the North Tongu Member of Parliament expressed his deep disappointment and frustration with the actions of the Minority members on the Appointments Committee, which, he argued, subjected all Members of Parliament to widespread public criticism.

In his testimony, Ablakwa highlighted how the public’s perception of Parliament had been severely damaged and how the behaviour displayed by the Minority members was a serious blow to the credibility of the institution.

“I was terribly disappointed and embarrassed as a Member of Parliament because I believe that the title honourable is earned by conduct and what happened that night was very disgraceful and shameful and the sad part is that it was the same week that the Minority Chief Whip had brought up a matter at plenary that he had been called silly and that he will not accept it and this conduct happened in less than 48 hours.

“All of us were bashed and brought into disrepute but you cannot actually blame the public and so I was embarrassed and I still feel embarrassed and I think there is a lot we have to do as an institution to reclaim our image and restore our honour and dignity before members of the public.”