Deputy Minister-Designate for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, found himself in an unexpected literary debate during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25.
What began as a routine question about his hobbies took a dramatic turn when the conversation shifted to Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, Things Fall Apart.
Mr. Gyan-Mensah, who listed reading as one of his hobbies, cited the novel as a personal favorite. When asked about the moral lessons he drew from the book, he highlighted Okonkwo’s ability to bring people together.
“Okonkwo’s love for people and his quest to always unite them is something I have learned from him,” he stated confidently.
However, the Ranking Member on the committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, was not convinced.
With a puzzled look, he questioned whether Mr. Gyan-Mensah had indeed read the same book.
“You mean the book written by Chinua Achebe?” Mr. Afenyo-Markin quipped, casting doubt on the nominee’s interpretation.
He countered that Okonkwo was more defined by bravery than communal leadership, suggesting that the nominee’s recollection might have been inaccurate.
The exchange left the room in a mix of amusement and intrigue, with committee members weighing in on the literary debate.
When asked by Committee Chairman Ricketts Hagan when he last read the book, Mr. Gyan-Mensah admitted it had been about five years ago, prompting Afenyo-Markin to humorously suggest a refresher might be in order.
For those familiar with Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is depicted as a fiercely ambitious and traditional Igbo warrior, known for his strength, bravery, and deep fear of weakness. However, rather than uniting people, his rigid and often harsh demeanor alienates those around him, including his own son. His inflexibility and obsession with masculinity ultimately lead to his downfall.
Based on Achebe’s characterization, Afenyo-Markin’s argument appeared to be more accurate, as Okonkwo was more headstrong and brave than a unifier.
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