The Minority in Parliament has accused Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, of displaying bias and partisanship during the vetting of ministerial nominees.
Tano North MP, Dr Gideon Boako, raised the concern at a press conference on Tuesday, stating that Mr Ahiafor’s conduct hindered a thorough vetting process.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee was the first real obstacle to a diligent vetting of the ministerial nominees. He denied the Ghanaian people and the Minority members the opportunity to conduct a thorough vetting. He was protective of the nominees and extremely partisan,” Dr Boako claimed.
He cited incidents from the January 13, 2025 vetting, claiming the Chairman shouted at committee members, including Atiwa East MP, Abena Osei-Asare, in an attempt to shield the nominees from scrutiny.
“The Chairman denied legitimate members the opportunity to ask relevant questions and railroaded the nominees through the process,” he added.
The Minority justified their protest against Mr Ahiafor’s conduct as a defense of parliamentary oversight.
“It must be noted that the altercation between our side of the committee and the Chairman was a direct protest against his conduct. Under the façade of a lack of capacity, he disregarded the fact that those he bullied were Members of Parliament and that the committee is a sub-body of the House,” Dr Boako emphasized.
The caucus reiterated the need for a transparent and impartial vetting process to ensure accountability and proper scrutiny of nominees.
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