The Speaker of Parliament has suspended four Members of Parliament for two weeks following a heated altercation during the vetting session of the Appointments Committee.
The suspended MPs are Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Alhassan Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib. Their suspension, effective immediately, comes after a dispute over whether the vetting of nominees Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa should proceed late into the night on January 30.
The disagreement escalated when the Minority insisted that the vetting be postponed, citing concerns over the process and time constraints. However, the Majority pushed for the session to continue, leading to a tense standoff that erupted into a physical confrontation.
Following the incident, the Speaker took swift action, emphasizing that order and discipline must be maintained in the House. “Parliament is a place for debate, not disorder. Such conduct will not be tolerated,” he stated.
The suspension of the four MPs has further heightened tensions between the Majority and Minority, as both sides remain firm on their positions regarding the vetting process. With key ministerial appointments still under review, the impact of these suspensions on parliamentary proceedings remains to be seen.
