Armah-Kofi Buah, Bernard Ahiafor and Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin
The vetting of the Minister of Finance-designate, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on Monday, January 13, 2025, was marked by considerable dramas.
On several occasions, members of the Appointments Committee, from the Minority Caucus, clashed with their colleagues on the Majority side.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, was particularly involved in many clashes with members of the Majority Caucus, and the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
On one occasion, Afenyo-Markin refused to obey an order from the chairman to allow the Deputy Majority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to take his turn during the questioning of Dr Forson.
The chairman of the committee had reprimanded the Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, for insisting on speaking while he (Ahiafor) was giving Armah-Kofi Buah the floor.
“Honourable Dr Gideon Boako, you are not even a member of the committee, so why are you raising your hand? It appears I’m overindulging you. Honourable Buah, you may proceed,” Ahiafor said.
His tone displeased the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin, who sought to have the issue addressed.
Afenyo-Markin persistently called the chairman’s attention, even though the Deputy Majority Leader had been given the floor to speak.
This infuriated Armah-Kofi Buah, who exclaimed, “But the chairman has recognised me unless he changes his mind.”
Despite this, Afenyo-Markin continued to call the chairman’s attention.
The chairman replied, “Honourable Minority Leader, I recognise Honourable Buah.”
However, the Minority Leader persisted, saying, “Chairman, I’m in for a point of order. Chairman, point of order. Chairman, let’s deal with this first. Chairman, let’s deal with this.”
Armah-Kofi Buah interjected, saying, “Honourable Afenyo-Markin, respect the chair. Please, respect the chair.”
But this did not deter Afenyo-Markin, as both men continued speaking concurrently.
Ultimately, Armah-Kofi Buah and Bernard Ahiafor relented and allowed Afenyo-Markin to make his point.
The Minority Leader then expressed his displeasure with the tone the chairman of the committee had been using to address members of his caucus.
“Chairman, with the greatest respect, let’s deal with this. You consistently raise your voice at my colleagues. The way you address them does not align with what we have all agreed upon — to extend to each other the utmost respect.
“This is the fourth time I am humbly pleading with you and craving your indulgence. I understand that you may have a high-pitched voice. However, I will plead with you. The way you came across as shouting at him — it happened to Hon Abena Osei Asare, you did it to Hon Sammi Awuku, and it’s happening again. I’m only pleading with you that, in all humility, please, perhaps you did not intend it. If you feel that any of my colleagues is doing something unacceptable, we can work together,” he said.
🇬🇭 “Respect the Chair!” – A moment of tension as Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin insists on making his point despite the chairman’s request to stand down. Watch as he and Hon. Armah Kofi Buah speak concurrently.
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— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) January 13, 2025
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