The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) clashed over the vetting schedule for two important Ministers-designate, Okudzeto Ablakwa (for foreign affairs) and Kwabena Akandoh (for health), causing chaos in Ghana's Parliament on Thursday, January 30, 2025. The Appointments Committee was unable to agree on whether to proceed with the vetting procedure that evening or to postpone it until Friday, January 31, 2025, which caused tension to rise.

The minority MPs, primarily from the NDC, demanded that the vetting be postponed, which sparked the dispute. However, the majority of NPP MPs felt that the procedure should proceed immediately. The tension in the room increased as each side made its case, and the situation dramatically worsened.


Things took a turn for the worse when furniture inside the chamber was destroyed during the clash. A viral video circulating on both traditional and social media platforms captured NPP MP Jerry Ahmed Shaib violently pushing a table. The table broke and was removed from the room, intensifying the chaotic scene. Shaib's actions were widely criticized, with many accusing him of behaving unprofessionally and breaking parliamentary conduct. There were also growing calls for the Parliament to sanction him for his actions.

However, Jerry Ahmed Shaib quickly defended himself, explaining that he had only pushed the table in response to NDC MPs allegedly pushing it toward him. He claimed that his natural reaction, driven by adrenaline, was to push it away. Shaib emphasized that his actions were not intended to be violent but were a defensive move to protect himself and his party from further escalation.

“I pushed the table because some NDC people pushed it towards me and my adrenaline reacted,” Shaib clarified. He denied any claims of aggression and stated that his main goal was to maintain order and prevent any further disruptions during the vetting session.

The incident has since sparked heated debate about the conduct of MPs during parliamentary proceedings and raised questions about how to prevent such chaotic scenes in the future.