Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged that the disruptions during the ministerial vetting process in Parliament on January 30 were orchestrated specifically to target him.
Testifying before the special investigative committee on Friday, February 7, 2025, Ablakwa argued that the chaotic scenes that marred the proceedings were far from accidental. Instead, he described them as part of a calculated effort to derail his vetting process.
“It appears to me that I was the target,” Ablakwa said. “The sequence of events was not random; it was a deliberate scheme to obstruct my vetting… because they seemed perfectly content to vet others without incident.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister painted a vivid picture of the events, accusing unnamed individuals of deliberately provoking chaos to halt proceedings. “What I witnessed was a clear attempt to disrupt the process, and they succeeded in doing so,” he added.
The chaos, which escalated into heated confrontations between MPs, forced Speaker Alban Bagbin to take decisive action. He suspended four lawmakers: Rockson Dafeamekpor, Hassan Tampuli, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, and Frank Annor Dompreh. However, the suspensions were later rescinded following consultations.
In response to the unprecedented disorder, Speaker Bagbin commissioned a special investigative committee chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah. The committee has been tasked with identifying the instigators of the disruptions and recommending sanctions to ensure accountability.
Ablakwa’s testimony has introduced a compelling dimension to the inquiry, hinting at underlying political motivations. Analysts suggest his allegations may signal deeper divisions within Parliament, as well as growing tensions over the ministerial vetting process.
The committee’s findings are eagerly awaited as the nation watches to see if justice will be served and whether reforms will be implemented to safeguard the integrity of parliamentary procedures.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
