The Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, has taken issue with comments made by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, during a vetting session, stating that he could have cited him for contempt but chose not to.

The tension between the two lawmakers arose when Ahiafor overruled a question posed during the vetting process.

Afenyo-Markin, displeased with the ruling, described the Chairman’s actions as “whimsical” and “capricious,” prompting a stern response.

“I take great exception to the Minority leader saying I am whimsical, capricious, and that I rudely interrupted. As Chairman of the Committee, I have the right to overrule a question, especially when there is an attempt to turn the vetting committee into a dancing floor. The just thing for me to do was to overrule that particular question,” Ahiafor stated.

He further reminded Afenyo-Markin that parliamentary protocols require members to withdraw unparliamentary language when used in the House, emphasizing that the Minority Leader’s refusal to apologize was unacceptable.

“Even in Parliament, when unparliamentary language is used, members are required to withdraw and sometimes apologise. He is even lucky I have not cited him for contempt,” he added.

The Chairman eventually ended Mr. Srem-Sai’s vetting.

In response to the Chairman’s decision, the Minority Leader announced a rejection of his nomination and boycotted the rest of the day’s vetting although the session continued.