Former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and previous Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, has expressed surprise at the confrontational approach adopted by his successor, Bernard Ahiafor, during recent vetting sessions.

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Speaking on Joy News' Upfront on Thursday, January 16, Osei Owusu criticized Ahiafor’s aggressive conduct, describing it as unnecessary and inconsistent with his own leadership style.

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"I haven’t even watched any of the proceedings," he admitted, "but I’ve seen, in a particular case, somebody forwarded to me, that my friend chairman was needlessly raising his voice and showing a tendency to show machoism."

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Drawing a contrast with his own methods, Osei Owusu emphasized professionalism and collaboration during his tenure as chairman.

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"My style is different. We are all colleagues, and our duty is to ensure that the person qualifies in accordance with the Constitution and that he can do the work he has been nominated to do," he stated.

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He further noted his surprise at the stern demeanor Ahiafor displayed towards a committee member during the vetting, stating, "I was a bit surprised to see how hard-faced the chairman of the committee was addressing one of the members of the committee. That is not my style."

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While acknowledging his own strict approach to procedural rules, Osei Owusu rejected suggestions that he was inflexible.

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"I believe strongly in the rules. I believe strongly in law and order. So if you’re going off board, I’ll bring you back," he explained.

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Clarifying his approach, he added, "I insist that you ask your question. You cut down on the comments before the question."

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He attributed his direct style to his legal background, emphasizing clarity and precision during proceedings.

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"Probably from my experience as a lawyer, I make sure that the question is straight to the point. I don’t like going through the bush before you come to the main road," he remarked. "In the end, people spend five minutes on commentary and ask a one-minute question. Sometimes, they answer the question before they ask it. Those are the kinds of things I tried to avoid."

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Though Osei Owusu stopped short of offering direct advice to Ahiafor, his comments hinted at the importance of balancing firmness with decorum.

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He stressed that the Appointments Committee’s primary role is to verify a nominee's constitutional qualifications and competence rather than engaging in unnecessary confrontations.

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His remarks have sparked public interest in the contrasting leadership styles within the committee, underscoring the challenges of balancing adherence to rules with effective communication and mutual respect during parliamentary vetting processes.

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