Parliament: Afenyo-Markin leads Minority Caucus to withdraw from Ad-hoc committee over bias concerns

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has decided to temporarily withdraw from the Ad-hoc Committee investigating the disturbances that disrupted the Appointments Committee’s proceedings on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

The decision stems from concerns over the continued chairmanship of the committee’s proceedings. While the Minority initially participated in the probe, they later opted out, alleging bias on the part of the committee chairman, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah.

In a formal letter addressed to the committee, the Minority Caucus revealed that they have submitted a memorandum to Speaker Alban Bagbin, highlighting their concerns and seeking guidance on how to proceed.

Ensuring Due Process and Fairness

The Caucus emphasized that their withdrawal should not be seen as an attempt to obstruct the investigation but rather as a necessary measure to ensure fairness, transparency, and due process.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin explained that their decision is meant to protect the integrity of the committee’s work while awaiting the Speaker’s response.

“Pursuant to this, and given the significance of the issues raised, the Minority Caucus considers it prudent to await the Speaker’s response before taking any further steps in relation to the Committee’s work,” he stated.

He further clarified that their stance should not be misinterpreted as a refusal to engage with the committee but rather as a step towards maintaining an impartial and credible investigative process.

“This should not be misconstrued as an unwillingness on the part of the Minority to engage with the Committee. Rather, it is a necessary step to ensure that due process is followed and that the process remains fair, impartial, and credible,” he added.

The Minority Caucus expressed confidence that Speaker Alban Bagbin will address their concerns in a way that upholds the credibility of the committee’s work and serves the best interests of Parliament.

“We trust that the Speaker will address these concerns in a manner that upholds the integrity of the Committee’s work and the broader interests of Parliament,” the statement concluded.

Source: Dailymailgh