The Member of Parliament of Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for suspending four MPs following the chaos that erupted during the vetting of ministerial nominees on January 30, 2025.

Speaking to journalists on February 4, 2025, Oppong Nkrumah accused the Speaker of disregarding parliamentary Standing Orders.

"That is in flagrant disregard of the Standing Orders, and that's why we will not be able to comply with that," he stated.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the vetting process conducted by the dissolved committee.

"When the committee brings the report of those that were vetted, we will exercise our minds to it. We do understand that some persons were vetted by the dissolved committee. We are not sure that that amounts to vetting. When it gets there, we’ll address it," he added.

Background

The altercation stemmed from the vetting of Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The Minority Caucus accused the Majority Caucus of violating an agreement to vet only four nominees for the day, leading to heated exchanges.

Tensions quickly escalated into physical confrontations, resulting in the destruction of microphones and furniture, and the overturning of the vetting table.

In response to the chaos, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, suspended four Members of Parliament for two weeks.

The suspended MPs are Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP), Nsawam-Adoagyiri); Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi); Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu); and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NPP, Weija-Gbawe)

A seven-member parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, will commence public hearings on February 5, 2025, at Parliament, to investigate the misconduct of the MPs during the vetting session conducted by the Appointments Committee.

The committee is expected to bring transparency to the events that unfolded during the vetting process.

Watch the video below:



JKB/AE

Meanwhile, watch as NPP MPs protest suspension of 3 caucus members by Speaker