There was drama at the conclusion of the vetting of Deputy Attorney General and Justice Minister nominee Mr. Justice Srem-Sai on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025. The Minority Caucus leader and Ranking Member, Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, requested the nominee to dance a certain dance, citing, "We are here to learn about our country. It is also about our culture."
But the First Deputy Speaker of the Committee, Mr. Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, labeled the question as misplaced in the setting. He knocked down the question, which resulted in an exchange of hot words afterward. Discontented with the chairman's ruling, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the latter of being "whimsical and capricious" as a chairman of proceedings. That single accusation leveled by Mr. Afenyo-Markin was sufficient enough to get him into a blistering row with the Chairman of the Committee.
The Chairman requested that his statement be withdrawn by Mr. Afenyo-Markin, but he declined and retorted, "Chairman, I refuse to withdraw. You rudely overruled me."For the duration of the war, Mr. Ahiafor bluntly stated, "To tell you that I am the chairman of this said vetting committee, that might very well be your last question."
The firestorm controversy later saw an abrupt halt of the exercise of vetting. When some members of the committee returned from a brief break, the Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee said that they would thwart Mr. Srem-Sai, Mr. Alhassan Suhuyini, and two others for the Afenyo-Ahiafor fight The minority is pushing back against them on grounds of equity and unjustified disruption of the minority during the vetting process.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the caucus had had a friendly working relationship with the vetting exercise, approving all the nominees on Monday and Tuesday in a jovial mood and respect for one another.
"We have had a smooth vetting since Monday in a spirit of mutual respect and a very jovial atmosphere, and for all nominees who appeared before us on those two days, we approved them by consensus.". Indeed, the minority caucus objects to the nomination of the Deputy Attorney General and says that it is your choice squarely and of a majority caucus. Concerning other nominees today, in continuation of the protest, we also object to them, and they are also your selection as a majority caucus," he underscored.
He served notice that unless the issue abated, the Minority would consider participating in future vetting exercises. We will be there on Friday, and if we do not witness a change of heart, we will think that we are on the next step," the minority leader said.
Post a Comment