The Marshall of Parliament, Lt. Col. Samuel Kofi Ofosu (Rtd), has provided a detailed account of the chaotic events that unfolded during the ministerial vetting session on the night of Thursday, January 30, 2025. Speaking before the Adhoc Committee investigating the incident, he offered his perspective on the series of events that led to the disruption.
According to Lt. Col. Ofosu, the chaos began when an overwhelming crowd of visitors and supporters accompanying the ministerial nominees filled the corridors. He explained that the crowd was far larger than expected, making it difficult to manage. While attempting to control the situation, he overheard shouting and heated arguments emanating from the committee room.
“I was outside managing the crowd and visitors when I heard shouts and altercations from inside the committee room. I quickly rushed in to assess the situation,” he recounted.
Upon entering, he discovered two Members of Parliament locked in a heated confrontation. Acting swiftly, he separated the two MPs and attempted to restore order. “I moved through the crowd, intervened, and tried to escort one of the MPs back to his seat,” he explained.
However, the situation escalated further. He observed MPs raising chairs onto the vetting table and forcibly dragging tables around the room. At one point, the legs of one of the tables were torn off amidst the commotion. Recognizing the severity of the chaos, Lt. Col. Ofosu took a protective stance behind the Chairman of the Committee to ensure his safety.
“By the time I reached the Chairman, members were on their feet. Chairs were on the tables, and others were dragging furniture. I positioned myself behind the Chairman to shield him from potential harm,” he said.
In the midst of the turmoil, he noticed the Majority and Minority leaders in a tense but urgent discussion outside the room, seemingly strategizing ways to restore calm. After their consultation, the Majority Leader returned to address the committee, but further progress was hampered as microphones and other equipment had been damaged during the scuffle.
“By the time the leaders returned, the vetting table had been overturned, and the microphone consoles were rendered inoperable,” Lt. Col. Ofosu noted. He explained that the damaged equipment made it impossible to continue the session, as media coverage and proper documentation were essential. Consequently, the sitting was adjourned.
The Marshall further recounted how MPs were escorted out of the chamber to their respective offices to prevent further escalations.
“After the leaders’ conversation, we advised that the session be suspended. Members were then escorted out to ensure calm was maintained,” he concluded.
The chaotic scenes from the vetting session have sparked widespread concern, with many questioning the conduct of the MPs involved. The Adhoc Committee’s investigation aims to uncover the root causes of the incident and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
