I will resist attempt to turn the vetting room into a dance floor – Ahiafor tells Afenyo-Markin

The Chairman of Parliament’s Appointment Committee, Bernard Ahiafor has said that he will not allow the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to turn the vetting room into a dance floor.

He said the room is meant for vetting of ministers-designate, not for dancing.

Mr Ahiafor said this on February 26 during the vetting of the Deputy Minister-designate for Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai.

Mr Afenyo-Markin had asked the nominee to demonstrate how a dance in the Volta Region (Akpi dance) is performed.

This request was overruled by Mr Bernard Ahiafor.

In reaction, Mr Afenyo-Markin described Mr Ahiafor’s action as “whimsical and capricious”.

This remark did not go down well with Mr Ahiafor, thus he asked the latter to withdraw or cease asking further questions. Mr Afenyo-Markin refused to withdraw the comment, which compelled the Chairman to end proceedings.

Upon resumption of proceedings, Mr Afenyo-Markin announced that members of the Majority Caucus have rejected the nomination of the Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai.

“I wish to announce a decision we have taken as Minority Caucus of the Appointment Committee. We have taken note of the abrupt end of the vetting of the nominee for Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. We reject the nomination of the Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General,” Mr Afenyo-Markin announced.

“Any decision to approve the nominee shall be the sole responsibility of the Majority,” he added.

In response to the Minority Leader’s statement to the effect that they have rejected the nominee, Mr Ahiafor said, “I take exception to being described as whimsical. When you want to turn the vetting room into a dancing floor, that is what I will resist.

He added, “You are even lucky that I have not cited you for contempt.”