The Majority and Minority Chief Whips, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, along with Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli and Jerry Ahmed Shaib, have been suspended from parliamentary sittings for two weeks, effective Friday, January 31.
Their suspension follows violent confrontations that erupted at the Appointments Committee on Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Tensions flared between members of the Minority and Majority caucuses over the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The Minority argued that the vetting should be rescheduled for Friday, while the Majority insisted it proceed as planned on the same day.
The disagreement escalated, leading to chaotic scenes in which Minority members took extreme actions, including breaking tables and microphones, in an attempt to halt the vetting process.
In response, the Majority maintained that the committee was following its scheduled plan and that the vetting should continue without disruption.
In response to the disturbances, the following actions have been directed:
- The Clerk of Parliament has been instructed to formally lodge a criminal complaint with the police for a full investigation into the matter.
- The Committee of Selection has been directed to reconstitute the Appointments Committee.
- The Clerk of Parliament will conduct a full assessment of damages to property in the Appointments Committee room, with any members found responsible to be surcharged for repairs.
- A seven-member committee, chaired by Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been tasked with investigating the incident and presenting a report within 10 days for further action.
