Speaker Bagbin’s Committee Launches WhatsApp Platform for Ministerial Vetting Chaos Investigation

The Special Committee formed by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to investigate the disruptive events that occurred during the ministerial vetting on January 30, 2025, has introduced a new WhatsApp platform to receive evidence related to the incident.

In a move aimed at gathering all possible information quickly and efficiently, the committee has called on the media and the public to share any video, image, or text evidence that could aid in the investigation.

During a press briefing on Monday, February 3, 2025, the committee’s chairman, Emmanuel Bedzrah, announced the creation of the platform and urged anyone with relevant evidence to send it to the Clerk of the Appointments Committee via the WhatsApp number 0244926911.

“We have created a digital platform, WhatsApp, where we shall receive multimedia evidence, including videos, audio, and text, to facilitate the speedy execution of the committee’s task,” said Bedzrah, emphasising the importance of gathering a wide array of materials to fully understand the events that led to the chaos.

The committee has vowed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, with the goal of identifying all Members of Parliament (MPs) involved in the disorder.

Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah assured the public that the committee would submit a detailed report of its findings to Speaker Bagbin after completing the investigation.

To further advance its inquiry, the committee has scheduled a public hearing to commence on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

The public hearing will provide an opportunity for MPs, members of the media, and other individuals who were present at the vetting to voluntarily share their accounts of the incident. Bedzrah called on everyone who witnessed the chaos to come forward and assist the committee.

However, the committee also recognised that some individuals might prefer to provide their information privately. As such, it has been made clear that permission for an in-camera hearing will be granted to those who wish to give evidence behind closed doors.

Bedzrah reassured the public that the investigation would be fair and thorough. “We are not here to witch-hunt any of our colleague members of Parliament,” he stated. “Our goal is to rebuild and strengthen our democratic values by holding a transparent investigation.”

In an additional step toward ensuring the investigation’s credibility, the committee plans to employ the services of a forensic expert from the Ghana Police Service to assist in analysing any evidence submitted.

As the committee works to uncover the full details of the January 30 incident, it has urged all citizens to play an active role in the process. “It is our hope that all citizens will stand with the Parliament of Ghana in these trying moments to assist in rebuilding our enviable democratic attributes,” Bedzrah added.

This new WhatsApp platform is part of the committee’s commitment to leveraging modern technology to ensure a swift and efficient investigation process. It is expected that the committee will continue to engage the public and gather as much evidence as possible in the days leading up to the public hearing.

With the public eagerly awaiting answers, all eyes will be on the Special Committee as it navigates this critical investigation into one of the most chaotic incidents in recent parliamentary history.

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