The Minority caucus in Parliament has condemned the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle, for what they describe as “egregious contempt” against the leadership of Parliament.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, 29 January, the caucus described Ms. Hardcastle’s actions on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, as one of the most “flagrant attacks on parliamentary dignity in recent memory.” They are calling for stern sanctions against her.
According to the statement, Ms. Hardcastle attempted to direct Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, on how to carry out his parliamentary duties and went further to describe a senior Member of Parliament as “silly.”
The Minority caucus sees this as a serious assault on the authority of Parliament.
“Such conduct strikes at the very foundation of our democracy and must be met with the full force of parliamentary sanctions,” the statement read.
The issue was raised on the floor of Parliament by Hon. Annoh-Dompreh, where both Minority and Majority MPs expressed outrage over Ms. Hardcastle’s actions. The bipartisan condemnation, according to the Minority, reflects Parliament’s firm stance against any behavior that undermines its authority.
The statement also referenced a past ruling in the case of Hon. K. T. Hammond v. William Ampem Darko, which established that no member of the public has the authority to direct or verbally attack an MP for carrying out their parliamentary duties. This precedent, they argue, reinforces the need for strict action against Ms. Hardcastle.
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