A photo collage of John Oti Bless (L) and Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Member of Parliament of Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, has accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, of inciting the chaos that occurred during the vetting of ministerial nominees on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Appearing before the ad hoc committee investigating the incident on Friday, February 7, 2025, Oti Bless alleged that Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, acted on the orders of Afenyo-Markin by ordering members to disconnect the wires of microphone 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.
He accused the Minority Leader of deliberately allowing and encouraging his members to disrupt proceedings, stating that his inaction made him complicit in the chaos that unfolded.
“Mr. Chairman, this is a straightforward matter. Everything that happened that day was caused by the Minority Leader. A leader who watches or stands by while subordinates vandalise or destroy state property without uttering a word or stopping them is as guilty as the perpetrators. From what I witnessed, the Minority Leader instigated his members to misbehave,” he noted.
The chaos occurred during the recent vetting of the Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who have both since been confirmed as sector ministers.
The Minority Caucus accused the Majority of breaching an agreement to vet only four nominees that day, leading to heated exchanges.
Tensions escalated into physical confrontations, resulting in the destruction of microphones and furniture, as well as the overturning of a vetting table.
In response, Speaker Alban Bagbin suspended four Members of Parliament: Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi), Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NPP, Weija-Gbawe).
A seven-member parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has begun public hearings at Parliament to investigate the conduct of the MPs during the vetting session conducted by the Appointments Committee.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has lifted the suspension on the four MPs.
JKB/AE
Also, watch as Afenyo-Markin exposes NPP appointees pretending to be NDC to maintain positions
