The Appointments Committee has apologised to Minister-designate for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over postponement of vetting.
This was on Friday Afternoon, when Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa sat in front of the Committee to be vetted.
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who were billed for vetting could not be vetted due to a misunderstanding between the Majority and the minority caucus.
The vetting of the Sam George and that of nominee for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe had taken long hours and was completed around 10 pm.
At this point, the minority caucus proposed postponing the vetting to Friday, citing concerns about the day’s proceedings but the majority on the other hand rejected the proposal.
This plunged the committee into chaos with some of the Members of Parliament dragging tables and chairs and destroying microphones.
Due to this, Okudzeto Ablakwa’s vetting could not proceed.
Read Also: Chaos over vetting: Ghanaians disappointed in Appointments Committee
However, on Friday, January 2025, his vetting took place and right before questioning, he raised concerns over how he was treated earlier by the Minority Leader, Afenyo Markin who portrayed him as some hooligan or some lawless character who was smuggled in parliament for vetting during a press conference.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa again clarified that he received a letter from the Committee to appear before the Committee for the vetting on Thursday, adding that he could not be smuggled in with his Wife, Chiefs and respected Ambassadors amongst others.
He demanded that Afenyo Markin apologise to him and the revered Chiefs who followed him to the Committee.
“I was not smuggled here, there was no conspiracy,” he said, saying that he is not some item to be smuggled in, urging the Chairman to take action on that.
But on behalf of the Appointments Committee, the Chairman, Mr Bernard Ahiafor apologised to him for how he was treated on Thursday night.
Despite admitting that a letter was sent to Okudzeto Ablakwa to attend the vetting, Mr Ahiafor apologised for the inconveniences.
“I must on behalf of the Appointments Committee render an apology to our revere guests who were here yesterday because the nominee was scheduled to be vetted yesterday, but for one reason or the other, we have not been able to conduct his vetting and some had to sleep over to be able to be here. Our sincere apology to you, we render an apology to the nominee, for keeping him from yesterday till today, he would have completed his vetting by yesterday but here we are commencing so on behalf of the committee, accept our apology,” he stated.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa
