LIVE: Vetting underway in Parliament after another disruption

The Appointments Committee of Parliament was once again the scene of heated political clashes on Friday morning, as the Minority and Majority Members engaged in a fresh round of accusations and counter-accusations during the ongoing vetting of ministerial nominees.  

The latest incident casts a shadow over the process and further strains the already fragile relationship between the two sides.

The controversy erupted after the Minority alleged they were deliberately excluded from the start of Friday's vetting proceedings.  They claimed they had been invited to a meeting to discuss their concerns about the vetting process, only to discover that the Majority had proceeded with the exercise in their absence.

These accusations led to a chaotic scene in the session, disrupting the already tense atmosphere.  Footage from the session showed MPs shouting across the aisle, with some members visibly agitated.

The Majority, however, defended their actions, insisting they were simply fulfilling their constitutional duties.  They argued that the absence of the Minority did not invalidate the process and that Parliament could not afford unnecessary delays.

Despite the disruptions, the vetting of the Health Minister nominee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, eventually commenced after leaders from both sides held a brief meeting to de-escalate the situation.  

Mr Akandoh's vetting itself was also briefly interrupted by the Minority, who again raised procedural objections, accusing the Clerk of Parliament of bias towards the Majority.  Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annor-Dompreh, explained that they had requested a short adjournment for a caucus meeting, only for the vetting to begin prematurely.

These latest incidents follow similar disruptions on Thursday night, which saw chaotic scenes and damage to parliamentary equipment, prompting an apology from the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor.  

The repeated clashes highlight the deep divisions within the Ghanaian Parliament and raise concerns about the politicisation of the vetting process.  

Analysts suggest that these ongoing disputes could further undermine public trust in the legislature.  

Follow the ongoing vetting process below;