Bernard Ahiafor, Member of Parliament for Akatsi South and Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, has criticized the posture of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the ongoing vetting process.
Mr. Ahiafor, who described the Effutu MP as a friend, admitted that his behavior during the vetting process is sometimes difficult to tolerate.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, February 3, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament expressed concerns over what he described as Afenyo-Markin’s double standards.
According to Mr. Ahiafor, whenever he reaches a consensus with the Ranking Member of the Appointment Committee, he later makes a U-turn to oppose the same decision.
“I have a very good relationship with him, but sometimes I find it very difficult to take the excesses,” the First Deputy Speaker admitted.
“I am one particular person who will not agree on something with you, and after a few minutes or hours, you behave as if that was not what we had agreed upon. It pisses me off,” he added.
In an earlier interview with Accra-based TV3, Mr. Ahiafor revealed that Afenyo-Markin admitted his refusal to proceed with the vetting on January 30—which eventually led to chaos—was due to pressure from his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“I don’t know what changed that led to the opposition. I was highly surprised. I even asked the Minority Leader about it because he had previously told me that Kwabena Mintah Akandoh could be vetted. Akandoh had personally reached out to him, explaining that he had brought people from Juaboso and was pleading to be vetted that evening.
“Afenyo said he had no problem with it. So now, what has changed? I can tell you his answer—he said he was under pressure from his party,” Mr. Ahiafor stated.
