A heated exchanges erupted between the Chairman of Parliament’s Appointment Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, and the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, during the vetting of Deputy Minister-designate for Justice and Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai.
The tension began when Afenyo-Markin asked Justice Srem-Sai to demonstrate the traditional Akpi dance from the Volta Region, which Ahiafor deemed inappropriate for the vetting room.
“I will not allow you to turn the vetting room into a dancing floor,” Ahiafor firmly stated. “The vetting room is meant for serious business, not for dancing.”
Afenyo-Markin responded, describing Ahiafor’s action as “whimsical and capricious”.
Ahiafor then asked Afenyo-Markin to withdraw his comment or cease asking further questions.
Afenyo-Markin refused, prompting Ahiafor to end the proceedings temporarily.
Upon resumption, Afenyo-Markin announced that the Minority Caucus had rejected Justice Srem-Sai’s nomination, citing the abrupt end to the vetting process.
“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,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
Ahiafor responded, “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. Be the first to get Breaking News… You are even lucky that I have not cited you for contempt.”
-BY Issah Olegor
