The Minority Caucus in Parliament has formally rejected the nomination of Justice Srem Sai as Deputy Attorney General, following a contentious dispute over the handling of his vetting by the Chair of the Appointments Committee.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, leader of the Minority, accused the committee chair of acting in bad faith, alleging an abrupt and unjust termination of the vetting proceedings. The Minority claims that the session was unfairly cut short after Afenyo-Markin refused to withdraw his objections to the Chair’s ruling.

In an impassioned protest, Afenyo-Markin characterized the Chair’s actions as “whimsical and capricious,” and said they undermined the collaborative spirit that had defined previous vetting sessions. “We do not think that, in the spirit of cooperation, you should put up such a posture,” he stated.

The Minority further criticized the Chair for perceived bias, pointing to an earlier incident in which Weija Gbawe MP Ahmed Jerry Shaib was allegedly interrupted unfairly. Afenyo-Markin claimed that his own efforts to raise concerns were also obstructed, citing interruptions from the Attorney General and the Majority Chief Whip.

Despite the disruptions, the Chair proceeded to allow the Majority Chief Whip to ask a follow-up question, an action Afenyo-Markin described as indicative of the Majority’s interference in the vetting process.

In response, the Minority Caucus announced its rejection of Sai’s nomination. “The Minority Caucus hereby rejects the nomination of the Deputy Attorney General,” Afenyo-Markin declared. He also indicated that the Minority would not accept any other nominees vetted on the same day, emphasizing that decisions made would be solely the Majority’s.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further warned that the Minority would reconsider its approach to future vetting sessions if the perceived bias continued. “If this posture remains the same, we will advise ourselves on the next course of action,” he cautioned, signaling potential disruptions in the vetting process moving forward.

This move marks another chapter in the increasingly tense relations between Ghana’s Majority and Minority factions, with the fallout from this dispute likely to impact future parliamentary proceedings.

Source:TheDotNews