Ghanaian entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has criticised some MPs for causing chaos during the vetting of some minister-designates on January 30, 2025.
Speaking on United Showbiz on February 2, 2025, Arnold condemned the actions of these MPs, stating that they should be ashamed of what he termed as their shameful deeds.
“This is unfortunate and isn’t something that we should tolerate as a country. We have not seen the end of it. But this is condemnable, and it isn’t something that we should tolerate, and they should bow their heads in shame,” he said.
However, Arnold acknowledged the Appointments Committee’s apology to the public after the incident.
“We can’t say that such a thing won’t happen again, but the good thing is that they rendered an apology the very next day. The Speaker also punished the people he feels are culpable for what happened. I also know the NPP MPs have rejected the suspension, citing the procedure the Speaker took to punish them,” he added.
Tensions flared on January 30, 2025, during the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health-designate, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate.
While the Majority MPs insisted on continuing the vetting session past 10 PM, the Minority strongly objected, leading to a clash that escalated into a physical altercation.
Some equipment was damaged in the process.
Subsequently, in response to the scuffle, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suspended four MPs involved in the incident for two weeks.
The suspended MPs are Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Alhassan Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib.
Watch the video below:
Vetting Committee Brouhaha: The act is utterly condemnable, and those responsible should bow their heads in shame – @ArnoldBaidoo #UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/Vr6l3kz7ON
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) February 1, 2025
Watch the moment chaos erupted over the vetting of Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa and Mintah Akandoh
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