The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has called for strict sanctions against Members of Parliament (MPs) responsible for the destruction of property during the Appointments Committee sitting on Thursday, January 30.
The violent altercation, which saw lawmakers engage in heated confrontations, has raised concerns about the Appointments Committee’s ability to effectively carry out its constitutional duties.
The unrest began when the Minority in Parliament proposed rescheduling the vetting to Friday, January 31, citing procedural concerns and an unfavorable environment for a fair assessment. The Majority, however, strongly opposed the proposal, insisting that the vetting proceed as planned.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show (CBS) on Friday, January 31, Dr. Rasheed Draman, the Executive Director of ACEPA, condemned the disorderly conduct and stressed the need for accountability. He warned that such acts of lawlessness would continue if no concrete actions were taken against the MPs responsible for the destruction.
Dr. Draman also referenced a similar chaotic incident in 2021 during the election of Speaker Alban Bagbin, cautioning that without punitive measures, such lawlessness could become a recurring issue in Parliament.
He urged the Speaker Bagbin to take decisive action by considering the dissolution of the current Appointments Committee.
Dr Draman noted “If I was to advise the Speaker of Parliament, I will say, looking to the rules, dissolve the committee and set some examples and let some people pay for their sins if the rules allow it and then you reconstitute the committee and then vetting can continue even if it has to take some days or weeks.
“Because the way this committee is constituted, I don’t think we can rely on it to do a proper job of confirming those who have been nominated by the President.”
