Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has firmly rejected claims made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin that he was not supposed to appear before the Appointments Committee on Thursday, January 30.

Afenyo-Markin had previously suggested that Ablakwa "forced" his way into the committee's session, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his presence.

Speaking to the press ahead of his own vetting session today, Ablakwa expressed his dissatisfaction with the accusations, stating that he was properly invited to the committee and did not "smuggle" himself into the proceedings.

“I am not some hooligan who will be smuggled into the Appointments Committee's meeting to be vetted,” Ablakwa asserted in his remarks, rejecting the notion that his appearance was in any way improper.

He also noted that the allegations had raised concerns not only among him but also among his chiefs and respected ambassadors, who were left questioning the authenticity of his invitation. "The claims raised doubts about whether I had been actually invited to the vetting session," he said.

The nominee did not hesitate to demand an apology from Afenyo-Markin for what he described as baseless accusations. “We demand an unqualified apology for his acts,” he stated, emphasizing the harm such allegations could do to his reputation.

In response to the controversy, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, offered an apology to Ablakwa on behalf of Afenyo-Markin for the earlier miscommunication regarding the scheduling of his vetting.