Minority Caucus opposes vetting of Zanetor, Ayariga, others

The Minority Caucus of Parliament has opposed the ongoing vetting of the ministerial and Supreme Court nominees of President John Dramani Mahama.

Addressing the media at Parliament on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, said that they have no issue with the nominees, even though they oppose their vetting.

He explained that his caucus's opposition was because the process was being rushed by the Majority Caucus.

He accused the Majority Caucus of using its supermajority to abuse the processes of the House.

Afenyo-Markin, therefore, called on President John Dramani Mahama to call the Majority Caucus to order.

He also called on Ghanaians to rally behind the Minority so they can check the excesses of the Majority.

Parliament's Appointments Committee is vetting two new ministerial nominees of President John Dramani Mahama: Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs-designate Mahama Ayariga, and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology-designate Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

This follows the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referring the two nominees to the Appointments Committee for vetting today, August 25, 2026.

Announcing the referral on the floor of Parliament on Monday, August 24, 2026, during an emergency recall sitting, Speaker Bagbin said: "I accordingly refer the two to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report to the House."

He also urged the committee to take into account the limited time available under the emergency recall.

"I want to remind the House that the period I gave in my notice is for a sitting of one week and that should be taken into consideration by the Appointments Committee. In other words, the consequential motions will have to be made, and we have to abide by our Standing Orders," he said.

The two nominees were among the first ministerial changes made by President John Dramani Mahama.

In addition to the nomination of Mahama Ayariga and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the President also reassigned Ahmed Ibrahim from the Local Government Ministry to Works, Housing and Water Resources, while Kenneth Gilbert Adjei was moved from the Works and Housing Ministry to the Ministry of Defence.

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