New Juaben South MP, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, has defended the chaotic disruptions during the Appointments Committee sittings on January 30 and 31, stating that it was the only strategy available to the Minority to ensure transparency in the vetting of ministerial nominees.
Speaking at a community engagement in Koforidua, the legislator explained that had the Minority exited the room, the Majority, with their numerical advantage, would have proceeded with the vetting unchallenged.
This, he argued, would have deprived the Ghanaian public of crucial information about nominees, including Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
“Because we were few—only seven members of the caucus were present—the only way out was to leave the place. If we had left, people wouldn’t have even known Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was there because they were going to vet him that night,” Okyere Baafi stated.
“So all the questions that we asked, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to ask them in the morning. The only way out for us was to stay and make the place ungovernable because if we had exited, they would have gone on with the process since they had the numbers.”
The confrontation between the Majority and Minority quickly escalated, leading to violent clashes that resulted in significant damage to parliamentary property, including consoles, cables, and tables. The chaotic scenes shocked many observers and raised serious concerns about parliamentary decorum and governance.
In response to the fracas, a Parliamentary Committee has been established to investigate the incident. The committee has been tasked with reviewing video footage, gathering testimonies from involved parties, and making recommendations to restore order and decorum in legislative proceedings.
Despite the controversy, Okyere Baafi unreservedly apologized for the disruptions, urging the public to understand the circumstances that led to the Minority’s actions.
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