Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has refuted claims made by Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oda in the Eastern Region, regarding the chaos that erupted in Parliament during the vetting of a ministerial nominee on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Without mentioning a name, Akwasi Acquah, claimed that Dafeamekpor’s “balls” were grabbed, amidst the fracas, a comment that Dafeamekpor dismissed as a “silly joke”.
In a post shared on his X page on February 3, 2025, he urged the public to disregard the claim, describing it as pure fabrication.
The altercation, which occurred during the vetting of ministerial nominees, escalated when the Minority caucus, accused the Majority of breaching an agreement to vet only four nominees for the day.
Tensions flared into physical confrontations, leading to destroyed microphones, overturned tables, and damaged furniture.
In an interview with Oyerepa TV on Monday, January 3, 2025, Acquah, described an incident where an MP allegedly crawled under a table and squeezed Dafeamekpor’s testicles, causing him to scream in pain. However, he noted that the cameras did not capture the event.
Four MPs, were suspended in the aftermath: Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri; Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi; Alhassan Tampuli, MP for Gushegu; and Jerry Ahmed Shaib, MP for Weija-Gbawe.
A special parliamentary committee, led by Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been set up to investigate the incident, with a report expected in ten days.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has also directed the Clerk of Parliament, to lodge a formal complaint with the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and emphasized that MPs responsible for the damage would be held financially liable for the repairs.
It comes as Speaker Alban Bagbin, has lifted the suspension of the four MPs, who were barred from proceedings, following the heated altercation.
The move came after the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, read a statement on the floor of the House, appealing to the Speaker to lift the suspension. The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, supported his appeal.
The confrontation, erupted due to procedural disagreements during the vetting process. Speaker Bagbin, initially suspended the four legislators, but his decision sparked controversy, with members from both sides, expressing concerns about its implications for parliamentary business.
Following the appeal from the Minority and Majority Leaders, the Speaker, reinstated the MPs, citing the need for unity and continuity in parliamentary activities, particularly during the review of key ministerial nominations.
The Speaker’s move is seen as an effort to restore order and ensure the smooth operation of legislative activities following the disruptions.
Parliament has since confirmed the nomination of Sam Nartey George, the Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, along with four others.
Mr George’s confirmation, was secured by a majority decision, as the Minority Caucus abstained from endorsing him.
The Minority Leader, explained that the Minority rejected Mr George’s nomination due to his accusations against former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of benefiting from illegal mining (galamsey) and his public criticism of the Chief Justice.
He also cited the nominee’s inability to provide documents regarding his spouse’s business and his source of secondary income, as stated during his confirmation hearing before the Appointments Committee.
“We are leaving this matter in the hands and on the heads of the Majority in this House. It is their cross to carry, as we, the NPP Minority Caucus of 88, are abstaining,” he declared.
However, in a social media post, Mr George, said he submitted all the necessary documents to Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
“For the avoidance of any doubt and to settle any controversy, yesterday, I submitted to the Appointments Committee all the documents required of me, and more,” he posted.
He detailed that he submitted certified copies of his certificates from the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), evidence of his travel, receipts of accommodation, proof of fees paid, and the prospectus from @lseideas on the course he studied.
Mr George, reaffirmed his dedication to serving the nation, stating, “Facts are sacred and I remain resolute in my quest to serve my Nation to the best of my abilities. So help me God.”
The House, however, unanimously endorsed four other nominees: Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, as Minister-designate for Labour, Jobs, and Employment; Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, as Minister-designate for Environment, Science, and Technology; Kofi Iddie Adams, as Minister-designate for Sports and Recreation; and Joseph Bukari Nikpe, as Minister-designate for Transport.
Their approval followed a motion moved by Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, for the House to adopt the committee’s report on the President’s nominees.
He stated that after thorough deliberation, the committee found the nominees competent, knowledgeable, and well-suited for their respective ministerial roles.
“The committee, therefore, recommends to the House, by consensus, the adoption of its report and the approval of Dr Pelpuo, Mr Muhammed, Mr Adams, and Mr Nikpe,” he said.
However, the Chairman, recommended that the House approve Mr George’s nomination by a majority decision.
Seconding the motion, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, reiterated that the committee had unanimously agreed to approve the four other nominees in good faith and in the national interest.
“I, therefore, have no hesitation at all in seconding the Chairman’s motion for this House to approve Honourable Pelpuo, Muhammed, Adams, and Bukari.
“All these four nominees, we have no problem at all, as we believe that they qualify under Article 78 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 217 of this House,” he said.
Regarding Mr George, Mr Afenyo-Markin, acknowledged that the MP for Ningo-Prampram, met the constitutional requirements to hold public office as a minister of state.
However, he stated that the Minority Caucus, believed that certain matters raised during his vetting made it “impossible for us, as a matter of principle, to support his nomination.”
“Hence the decision to go by majority on his nomination. In other words, we washed our hands of his nomination and asked the Majority to carry their burden on their own shoulders,” he added.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, clarified that the Minority, had no issue with Mr George expressing his opinions in the public domain, but took exception to the language he used against the Chief Justice.
“We believe that his criticism, which he describes as constructive, could have been measured in language use, especially since he himself is in public service,” he stated.
“The nominee, when asked if he would retract and apologise for his posts on social media, stated that he stands by those posts,” he added.
The Minority Leader, also expressed disappointment in Mr. George’s insistence that former President Akufo-Addo benefited from illegal mining.
“For the nominee to insist that President Nana Akufo-Addo benefited from the galamsey menace, we found that most unfortunate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Afenyo-Markin has issued an unreserved apology to the Clerk of the Appointments Committee, Mrs Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, following his earlier accusations that she was partisan in executing her duties.
“If the husband, the children, and the family are traumatised by my comments about the Clerk, I am sorry. I concede that there is always a better way to react. I will write a personal letter to her [Clerk of the Appointments Committee] for the records,” he assured.
The post Oda MP, Akwasi Acquah lied about Dafeamekpor’s testicles-squeezing incident appeared first on The Herald ghana.
