Minority Leader Accuses Majority Of Breaching Pre-sitting Arrangements Leading To Thursday’s Chaos
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Majority in Parliament of breaching a pre-sitting agreement and attempting to smuggle in Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, along with other unapproved nominees, for vetting before the Appointments Committee.
Addressing the press on Friday, 31st January, Afenyo-Markin explained that an agreement had been reached to vet only three nominees on that day.
This was later amended to include a fourth nominee, a change that both sides had agreed upon. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the Majority suddenly requested the inclusion of a fifth nominee.
After the fifth nominee had been vetted, Afenyo-Markin revealed that it became apparent the NDC had secretly brought Mr Ablakwa into the committee room, a claim Mr Ablakwa has subsequently denied and the Chairman of the Appointments Committee had apologized for.
“Ablakwa arrived fully dressed, accompanied by his wife and other family members, and attempted to force his way into the proceedings, despite not being scheduled for the day’s vetting,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He further added, “Not only him, there were other regional nominees, who had not been programmed, but they were also forced into the committee room.”
Afenyo-Markin condemned the actions of the Majority, accusing them of trying to use their numbers to intimidate the Minority.
“Their plan was to use the so-called majority to intimidate us,” he said. “The NDC must know, here and now, that they won the election, but that election they won means they govern with us, we will not allow them to use their so-called majority to force their way through, it won’t happen.”
He reminded the NDC that winning the election did not grant them the right to disregard agreements or act unilaterally.
“We will not allow the NDC to use their so-called majority to force their way through this,” Afenyo-Markin asserted. “They must recognise that, while they won the election, they are expected to govern in partnership with us. We will not tolerate attempts to push through decisions by intimidation.”
Despite the tensions, Afenyo-Markin clarified that the Minority would not be boycotting the proceedings. Instead, they would remain in the room, protest the actions of the Majority, and make their opposition known.
“We are not going to boycott any proceedings,” he affirmed. “We will stay in, and protest, and they will not have their way. But we want to assure them, because we’ve been in government before and we know governance, we will not obstruct government business.”
He reassured the public that while they would not stand for irregularities, they had no intention of obstructing the essential work of the government.
“We will not obstruct government business, but we will ensure that our concerns are heard and addressed appropriately,” he concluded.
Credit: Kareen Tei
