“We Are Few, But We Are a Mighty” Few”—Minority Vows to Stand Firm Amid Tensions

The minority in Parliament has vowed not to be intimidated by the majority, despite ongoing tensions over the vetting of ministerial nominees.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin declared that although his caucus is outnumbered, they remain resolute in their convictions and will not back down in the face of what they describe as intimidation tactics.

Addressing the press on Friday, January 31, Afenyo-Markin reaffirmed the minority’s commitment to holding the government accountable, stressing that they will not be bullied into submission.

“We are few, but we are a mighty few. We are firm in our conviction and determined, and we shall never surrender to intimidation,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

The tensions stem from the Appointments Committee’s sitting on Thursday, January 30, which saw chaotic scenes unfold due to disagreements between the Majority and Minority over the vetting schedule. The minority had requested a rescheduling of the vetting process, citing procedural concerns and the need for adequate scrutiny of ministerial nominees.

However, the majority opposed the request, insisting that the vetting proceed as originally planned.

The disagreement escalated into a heated standoff, disrupting parliamentary proceedings. Tempers flared as both sides engaged in a verbal confrontation, creating a charged atmosphere within the chamber. Security personnel had to intervene to restore order, and the police eventually escorted Minority MPs out of the chamber to prevent further altercations.

Afenyo-Markin accused the majority of using intimidation tactics to silence opposing views. He criticised what he described as a deliberate attempt to suppress the minority’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the vetting process.

“Yesterday, we faced verbal attacks, and it took the vigilance of the police to escort us out of the chamber,” he revealed.

The minority also expressed concerns over the majority’s disregard for pre-sitting agreements on the number of nominees to be vetted in a single session. They argued that this move undermines the credibility of the vetting process and limits their ability to conduct a thorough assessment of the nominees.

“We commend the police for ensuring law and order, and we urge them to continue their work impartially. However, we are concerned that the majority ignored prior agreements on the number of nominees to be vetted in a single sitting,” Afenyo-Markin added.

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