NEWS

Fiery Clash Halts Justice Minister Vetting Abruptly

Heated Exchange Forces Abrupt End to Justice Minister Vetting

Following a heated verbal altercation between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Appointments Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, the vetting process for Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, the deputy attorney general and justice minister-designate, was abruptly terminated on Tuesday, February 26.

The dispute started when Afenyo-Markin insisted that the nominee do a traditional Ghanaian dance, claiming that the screening process has to include an awareness of cultural heritage.

“We are here to learn about our country. It is also about our culture,” Afenyo-Markin asserted.

However, Committee Chairman Ahiafor swiftly dismissed the request, deeming it inappropriate for the occasion.

“Honourable nominee, the question is overruled. You are not going to answer that question,” Mr. Ahiafor ruled. Unhappy with the ruling, Afenyo-Markin accused the Chairman of acting unfairly, calling his decision “whimsical and capricious.”

“Chairman, if you decide to be whimsical and capricious, it will not advance the work of this committee. Apart from the constitutional issues involved, it is also about our culture. We have had nominees speaking their dialect here,” Afenyo-Markin argued.

In response, Ahiafor demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statement, stating that he found the remarks offensive.

“Honourable Minority Leader, I take offence from the fact that you are saying that I am being whimsical and capricious, so I will urge upon you to withdraw those words,” Ahiafor insisted.

Afenyo-Markin refused, further escalating the dispute.

“Chairman, I will not withdraw. You were whimsical and capricious in the way you overruled my question,” he maintained. The heated exchange continued as Afenyo-Markin accused Ahiafor of being “rude” in dismissing his request.

“Chairman, I will not withdraw. I am sorry, I will not withdraw. You rudely overruled me,” he stated.

At this point, Ahiafor firmly asserted his authority, indicating that Afenyo-Markin had reached his last opportunity to question the nominee.

“To demonstrate to you that I am the chairman of this particular committee, that may be your last question,” Ahiafor declared.

Ahiafor finally made the decision to abruptly halt the screening process as tensions increased, which was an unexpected and dramatic way to end the session. Afenyo-Markin boycotted the rest of the day’s vetting procedures after declaring his party’s disapproval of the candidacy and staging a walkout.

Discussions over parliamentary decorum and striking a balance between procedural justice and cultural concerns in high-level government appointments have been triggered by the abrupt stop to the screening. As the nation gets closer to the 2024 elections, political observers predict that this episode could exacerbate already-existing tensions between the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament.

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