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A heated exchange between minority chief whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and acting chief executive officer of the Petroleum Commission Emeafa Hardcastle has escalated into a demand by Mr. Annoh-Dompreh for Mrs. Emeafa Hardcastle to be summoned before Parliament’s Privileges Committee.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday, January 28, during a break in the Parliamentary Appointments Committee’s vetting proceedings. Mrs. Hardcastle’s comments referring to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus as a “micro-minority” triggered a confrontation with Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who found the remarks offensive and disrespectful.
On the floor of Parliament, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh expressed his dissatisfaction with Mrs. Hardcastle’s conduct, describing her words as unprofessional and damaging to the dignity of Parliament.
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He urged the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee for investigation, seeking accountability for what he called a breach of parliamentary decorum.
Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu also weighed in, condemning Hardcastle’s comments as harmful to Mr. Annoh-Dompreh’s reputation as an elected Member of Parliament. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Mr. Iddrisu called on Hardcastle to issue a public apology but also advised Mr. Annoh-Dompreh to exercise restraint and allow the Privileges Committee to handle the matter.
Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the need for unity in the House, urging all Members of Parliament to stand together in condemning the remarks. “This House must stand united in condemning this conduct and demanding an apology,” he said, before advising Mr. Annoh-Dompreh to let the Privileges Committee resolve the issue.
The term “micro-minority” has recently been a topic of contention, with NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia using it in December 2024 during a press conference.
He criticized the NPP’s leadership, particularly in light of alleged disruptions by their supporters in collation centers. Asiedu Nketia’s comments, and the subsequent use of the term by Speaker Alban Bagbin in January 2025, have sparked protests from NPP MPs, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who has consistently rejected being referred to as a “micro-minority.”
The controversy surrounding the term and Mrs. Hardcastle’s comments underscores the growing tensions within Parliament and the broader political landscape, with both sides calling for respect and decorum in parliamentary exchanges.
The call for Emeafa Hardcastle’s appearance before the Privileges Committee is the latest development in the ongoing dispute, as Parliament grapples with maintaining order amid increasing political friction.
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