Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, the Clerk to the Appointments Committee of Parliament, has revealed that she left a tense vetting session on January 30, 2025, after receiving an order from her husband to leave the premises.
The session, which saw intense disagreements between the Majority and Minority sides over the nominations of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for the positions of Minister for Health and Minister for Foreign Affairs, was marked by heightened tension.
In a statement to a Special Committee convened by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on February 5, Mrs. Jiagge-Gobah recounted the pressure she faced during the session. The Majority side urged her to swear in the health minister-designate, while the Minority opposed the move.
Despite the heated atmosphere, Jiagge-Gobah clarified that she would only take action if instructed by the Clerk to Parliament. “They [the Majority] kept shouting at me to swear in the nominee. The Minority Leader was also shouting at me. It was overwhelming,” she said. “At one point, I began fanning myself, took a seat, and tried to cool down.”
At the end of the session, she received three phone calls and a message from her husband, instructing her to leave immediately. Following his directive, she exited through a different door and stood outside the Clerk’s office.
The incident comes after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin issued a public apology on February 4, 2024, following his earlier outburst during the session, in which he accused Jiagge-Gobah of bias and procedural missteps. The Minority had also called for her resignation, alleging unprofessional conduct.
Source:TheDotNews