Annoh-Dompreh was the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the vetting chaos — Ablakwa

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Tongu

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has accused the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, of being the mastermind behind the chaos that erupted during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30.

According to the minister, the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP incited his colleagues to break tables and microphones, including that of the Appointments Committee Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor.

Giving his testimony before the seven-member ad-hoc committee investigating the matter, Ablakwa claimed he remained calm throughout the altercation.

“The Chief Whip was the commander-in-chief of the chaos and violence. He was directing them on what to do. He really decided to lead the mayhem after the Minority Leader gave signals and threatened the clerk not to swear in Honorable Akandoh. Then the Chief Whip took over and orchestrated the violence,” Ablakwa narrated.

The said chaos occurred during the vetting of Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The Minority caucus had argued that the session should be postponed to the next day because it was late, but the Majority side resisted and pushed through, resulting in physical altercations that were broadcast live on television.

Following the incident, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Alhassan Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib were suspended for two weeks. However, the Speaker of Parliament has since lifted the suspension.

They now face the possibility of paying for damaged state property if investigations confirm their direct involvement, as seen in the video evidence.