Tensions flared during the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, President John Mahama’s nominee for Chief Justice, as Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga clashed over comments made during the session.
The confrontation began when Afenyo-Markin referred to the nominee as a “disputed nominee,” a remark that drew an immediate objection from Ayariga, who described it as inappropriate and politically charged.
In response, Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority side of acting in bad faith and attempting to stifle legitimate parliamentary debate.
“Chairman, the Majority Leader is clearly acting in bad faith, seeking to obstruct the peaceful process we have started and, as it were, use his numbers to intimidate,” he said during the heated exchange.
Mahama Ayariga, however, fired back, warning that Afenyo-Markin would not be allowed to “attack anyone” during the committee proceedings.
“You can’t just be allowed to run down everybody because you are Afenyo-Markin. Please show me a rule that even says you have to make a preliminary statement. Today, you will not be allowed to attack anybody and walk away while I sit in this committee,” Ayariga retorted.
For nearly an hour, the vetting session was dominated by banter between the two leaders, with no questions posed to the nominee.
Amid the escalating tension, the Chair of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, called for a brief recess to restore order before proceedings could continue.
