A parliamentary meeting in Ghana descended into chaos on Thursday night, with members engaging in physical altercations and destroying furniture, following a dispute over the vetting of new ministerial appointments.

The incident occurred during a committee meeting tasked with vetting three MPs from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), who had been nominated for cabinet positions following the party's victory in the December elections.

According to reports, the dispute arose when opposition MPs were accused of dragging out the process to settle political scores. The vetting committee had disagreed on some issues, leading to the subsequent frenzy. The evaluation of a single nominee, communications minister designate Samuel Nartey George, was said to have dragged on for over five hours.

Several MPs of the NDC party felt that the delay was a form of retaliation from opposition MPs on the committee, who wanted George to withdraw his criticism of former president and NPP leader Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Mahamadu Bawumia. The situation escalated, with MPs yelling, shoving each other, and overturning tables.

On Friday, the NPP's parliamentary leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stated that parliamentary norms gave committee members "the opportunity to enquire deeply into every nominee of the president, without limit to questions." He accused the NDC of trying to "frustrate" the entire process.

Consequently, the vetting meeting has been pushed back to Friday. The head of the vetting committee issued an apology to the Ghanaian public the following morning, describing the incident as "totally unacceptable".

This incident highlights the deep-seated political tensions in Ghana, with the ruling party and opposition parties engaging in a bitter struggle for power. The violence and chaos that erupted during the parliamentary meeting are a stark reminder of the need for political leaders to work towards reconciliation and cooperation.

The implications of this incident are far-reaching, with the potential to undermine the stability of the Ghanaian government and erode trust in the political system. As the country navigates this challenging period, it is essential for political leaders to prioritize the interests of the Ghanaian people and work towards finding a peaceful resolution to their differences.

Source: BBC