The Member of Parliament of Ketu South, Eric Edem Agbana, has expressed regret over the recent chaotic scenes in Parliament during the vetting of some ministerial nominees.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with George Ayisi on GhanaWeb TV, he described the incident as unfortunate and an embarrassment to the country’s legislative body.
“Well, I think it’s most regrettable because, yes, we can always disagree with each other. We may share different opinions, but we must not allow it to degenerate into the chaotic situation that we witnessed.
“I was there. I saw it unfold. But when I went back home, friends, family, and even colleagues from other parliaments outside the continent sent me videos because they had gone viral on social media,” he noted.
He revealed that he received messages and videos from friends and parliamentarians in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Italy, and Germany.
“One of the things we aim to do is share knowledge and experiences, so we are always in touch. When they follow such events and share the videos with you, it can be very embarrassing that this is the aspect that goes viral,” he added.
Agbana also took a moment to commend the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament, Alban Bagbin, describing him as an institution in parliamentary democracy.
“We have really not given Speaker Bagbin his flowers. He is respected across the world. And so, for him to preside over the House and witness such scenes, I know it has significantly affected his image. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Speaker for that,” he said.
He called for a thorough investigation into the events, emphasizing that the findings should guide future deliberations.
“I believe the committee should proceed with its investigations, and whatever reports emerge should shape future discussions to ensure that such an unfortunate event does not happen again,” he stated.
Addressing the role of the Minority in the chaos, Agbana observed, “The Minority was very much an active participant in the chaos, but for some reason, they decided to boycott the entire hearing process. I will wait for leadership to decide the next steps. However, as I said, we regret that unfortunate incident.”
He further urged Parliament to revise its vetting procedures to ensure a more structured and orderly process.
“I am also looking forward to the House revising its rules on how vetting is conducted. We should learn valuable lessons from these experiences and strive to improve,” he added.
Background
On January 30, 2025, chaos erupted when the Minority opposed the vetting of Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The standoff escalated into a physical confrontation among MPs, leading to the damage of tables and microphones.
In the aftermath, four MPs were suspended, prompting the Minority to stage a walkout. However, the suspension was later reversed by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
Speaker Bagbin subsequently established a committee to investigate the events of January 30, 2025.
The committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, includes members Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui, Abena Osei Asare, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, and Bede Anwataazuma Ziedeng.
However, the Minority members of the committee have withdrawn from the investigation, citing concerns over the chairman’s impartiality.
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