Chairman of the Appointments Committee in Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor has denied claims by Minority Members of Parliament of being “extremely partisan” during the vetting of Dr. Ato Forson, Dr. Dominic Ayine and John Jinapor.
The Minority caucus held a press briefing after the vetting of the first batch of Mahama’s three ministerial nominees, accusing Mr. Ahiafor of being bias during the vetting process.
But the Chairman of the Appointments Committee has taken exception to the allegations of the Minority Caucus in the House.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, the Akatsi South MP who doubles as the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament disclosed that he ignored the agreed rules to accommodate members of the Minority caucus, suggesting that he was more lenient to the Minority members.
“I take a very great exception to that because I have accommodated them and I have over indulged them. Going forward I do not know how they are going to describe me; I never gag them.
“I went to the extent of bending the ground rules that we have agreed upon to even accommodate certain things that I ought not to have accommodated, yet they describe me to be unfair to them.
“Well, posterity will be the judge,” Ahiafor emphasised.
When asked about how he bended the rules for the minority caucus, Ahiafor noted that ordinarily, he should have limited the number of people who would have been given opportunity to ask questions.
“There should be some limit on the number of questions or the time frame within which the minority leader is supposed to ask questions
“Looks like the very first experience he had unlimited period and for me it was excessive,” he added.
Minority MPs accuse Appointments Committee chairman of bias in ministerial vetting
