
The Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, has expressed frustration over what he perceives as the Minority Leader’s struggle to adapt to his new role in opposition. Speaking on PM Express on Monday, February 3, Ahiafor noted that while he shares a cordial relationship with Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the latter’s approach often complicates their collaboration.
“I have a very good relationship with him, but sometimes I find it very difficult to handle the excesses,” Ahiafor, who also serves as First Deputy Speaker, remarked.
“I am someone who believes in consistency. I cannot agree on one thing with you, only for you to act differently a short while later. It frustrates me.”
His remarks come against the backdrop of growing tensions between the Minority and the Clerk of the Appointments Committee. Afenyo-Markin and his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have accused the Clerk, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, of bias and withholding information from the Minority, allegations that have disrupted vetting proceedings and highlighted internal struggles within the Minority leadership.
Ahiafor, the MP for Akatsi South, refuted Afenyo-Markin’s claims, insisting that all committee reports are shared transparently with both the Chairman and the Ranking Member. He dismissed accusations of partisanship on the part of the Clerk, emphasizing that reports are provided fairly and openly.
“There is nothing that the Clerk has put out that we have not agreed upon,” Ahiafor stated firmly. “On multiple occasions, reports have been distributed to both of us, sometimes even in full view of the cameras. I don’t understand why he claims he is not receiving them.”
Ahiafor attributed Afenyo-Markin’s stance to his previous tenure as Majority Leader, suggesting that the transition to Minority leadership has been challenging for him.
“It’s time for him to acknowledge that he is no longer the Majority Leader but the Minority Leader. He may use various adjectives to describe himself—mighty and happy Minority—but the fact remains that he is the Minority Leader,” Ahiafor pointed out.
He further clarified parliamentary protocols, explaining that Clerks take instructions from the Chairman of the Committee rather than the Ranking Member, a procedural fact that Afenyo-Markin has struggled to accept.
“In parliamentary practice, Clerks take directives from the Chairman of the Committee, not the Ranking Member. That is why their letters typically state, ‘I have been directed by the Chairman of the Committee,’” Ahiafor explained.
He reiterated that Afenyo-Markin’s difficulty in adjusting stems from his previous experience as Majority Leader and urged him to embrace the realities of opposition.
“Coming from the Majority side, he sometimes forgets that he is now in the Minority and must operate within that framework,” Ahiafor concluded.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com