The vetting of ministerial nominees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 30, 2025, descended into chaos, marking one of the most turbulent parliamentary sessions in Ghana in 2025.
The disruptions occurred during the vetting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
What began as a disagreement over procedure quickly escalated into physical confrontations among Members of Parliament.
When lawmakers break the law, punches take over – 4 times Parliament descended into chaos
The Minority caucus accused the Majority of breaching an agreement to vet only four nominees on the day.
According to the Minority, the Majority’s decision to add two additional nominees without consensus triggered the dispute.
Tensions flared as heated arguments gave way to pushing and shoving.
Tables were overturned, and microphones and other parliamentary properties were damaged inside the committee room, forcing the suspension of proceedings.
Vetting Chaos: ‘Everything that happened was caused by the Minority Leader’ – Oti Bless
Police were subsequently called in to restore order within the precincts of Parliament.
Subsequently, and in response to the incident, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suspended four MPs involved in the disturbances and constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.
During the hearings, the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, for instance, accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, of inciting the chaos that occurred during the vetting of ministerial nominees.
Appearing before the ad hoc committee on Friday, February 7, 2025, Oti Bless alleged that the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, acted on the orders of Afenyo-Markin by ordering members to disconnect the wires of microphones and remove tables in a bid to disrupt the work of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
“Before the incident occurred, Dr Afriyie approached the Minority Leader for Akandoh to be vetted, but the Minority ignored him. The Minority Chief Whip also wanted Akandoh to be vetted, but the Minority Leader rejected their request and stated that whatever would happen should happen. I was watching them,” he recounted.
Speaker Bagbin strongly condemned the conducts of the MPs, warning that such actions undermine public confidence in Parliament and Ghana’s democratic institutions.
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