Parliament must revise its rules on vetting - Ketu North MP on Appointments Committee chaos

The Member of Parliament for Ketu North Eric Adam Agbana, has expressed regret over the recent chaos that erupted during a sitting of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, calling it an unfortunate incident that damaged the image of the legislative house as well as the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.

In an exclusive interview with GhanWeb TV’s George Ayisi, Edem Agbana emphasized the need for introspection and reform within parliamentary processes to prevent such events from recurring.

Reflecting on the incident, Agbana stated, "It has caused a lot of damage to his image, and we sincerely apologize to Mr. Speaker for that."

While refraining from immediate judgment on the role of the decision by the Minority Caucus (New Patriotic Party MPs) to boycott the ad-hoc committee investigating the incident, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP indicated his intent to await guidance from parliamentary leadership, saying, "I’ll wait for leadership to see what steps they will take concerning that."

The Ketu North MP expressed hope that the incident would serve as a catalyst for positive change, particularly in how parliamentary proceedings are governed.

"I am also looking forward to the house revising its own rules on how proceedings are conducted," he said, highlighting the need to draw "valuable lessons" from the experience.

Edem Agbana posed critical questions about the current rules, asking, "Should we have limited time allocated for vetting? Are there some areas we should bar members from asking questions about?"

He suggested that the disruption provides an opportunity to review the Standing Orders, stating, "I think this incident has provided us an opportunity to take a look at our Standing Orders and how the Appointments Committee conducts its business."

Beyond the immediate fallout, Agbana framed the chaos as a learning moment for Ghana’s democracy.

"For me, we can also learn a lot from what happened and see how we can build this democracy and make it better," he remarked while describing democracy as a dynamic process.

"I always say that democracy is the only subject that keeps changing rapidly without losing its core essence. It’s the only subject where every day we learn from experience." He further emphasized its evolving nature, saying, "Democracy gives us that opportunity to keep learning and relearning, and to unlearn certain practices—all for the betterment of our country."

Edem Agbana urged the ad-hoc committee to continue its investigations into the incident, asserting that the resultant report should guide future deliberations.

"I believe the committee should proceed with their investigations, and whatever report comes out should shape deliberations moving forward so that this unfortunate event from that evening does not repeat itself," he said.

On January 30, 2025, chaos erupted during a late-night sitting of the Appointments Committee of Parliament during a vetting of ministerial nominees by President John Dramani Mahama.

Tensions flared when the Majority (NDC) pushed to continue vetting additional nominees after 10:00 p.m., despite Minority (NPP) demands for adjournment due to exhaustion.

The disagreement escalated into physical confrontations, damaging property and prompting police intervention. Speaker Alban Bagbin condemned the incident, suspended four MPs, and ordered a special committee to investigate within 10 days.

The Speaker has however withdrawn the suspension of the four MPs.

Watch the interview below:



GA/KE