A dramatic turn of events unfolded during the vetting of Deputy Attorney General and Justice Minister-designate, Mr. Justice Srem-Sai, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. The session took a tense turn when Ranking Member and Minority Leader, Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, asked the nominee to demonstrate a traditional dance, sparking a disagreement with Chairman Bernard Ahiafor.
Afenyo-Markin’s request was met with resistance from Ahiafor, who deemed it inappropriate for the setting. This led to a sharp exchange between the two, with Afenyo-Markin accusing Ahiafor of being “whimsical and capricious” in his handling of proceedings.
The situation escalated, with Ahiafor demanding that Afenyo-Markin withdraw his remarks. However, Afenyo-Markin stood firm, refusing to back down. The standoff ultimately resulted in the abrupt end of the vetting session.
Upon returning from a short break, the Minority Leader announced the caucus’s decision to reject Mr. Srem-Sai’s nomination, citing unfairness and undue interruption during the vetting process. The Minority also rejected the nominations of Mr. Alhassan Suhuyini and two others.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the Minority had previously cooperated with the vetting process, approving all nominees on Monday and Tuesday. However, the events that transpired during Srem-Sai’s vetting led to a reevaluation of their stance.
The rejection stems from the Minority’s perception of bias in the vetting process, with Afenyo-Markin warning that if the situation persists, the Minority would reconsider its participation in future vetting sessions.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
