Haruna Iddrisu demands apology from Petroleum Commission CEO over verbal clash with minority chief whip

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South and Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a public apology and retraction from the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Emefa Hardcastle, following remarks allegedly directed at the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

The issue arose during a recess in the Parliamentary Appointments Committee’s vetting of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the minister-designate for Defence, on Tuesday, January 28. During the break, a heated verbal altercation reportedly took place between Annoh-Dompreh and Hardcastle.

As Annoh-Dompreh was walking out of the room, Hardcastle allegedly made comments such as, “You are threatening me that you are taking me on because who are you ? What do you mean by taking me on ? You are a micro-minority. Afenyo-Markin himself doesn’t use that phrase ? I don’t have time for that. “You think you can bully me here ?”

In response, Annoh-Dompreh indicated he would take action, expressing concerns about the nature of the exchange and its potential implications. The comments reportedly referred to Annoh-Dompreh’s position as a member of the minority caucus in Parliament.

Addressing the matter on the floor of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu condemned Hardcastle’s remarks, which he argued were damaging to Annoh-Dompreh’s reputation as an elected Member of Parliament.

Iddrisu demanded a public apology from Emefa Hardcastle, urging the minority chief whip not to escalate the situation further.

He emphasized that the matter should be resolved through the proper channels, with the Privileges Committee as a possible route, but with a focus on avoiding unnecessary escalation.

“The conduct was damaging, and the House must stand united in condemning it and demanding an apology,” Iddrisu said, adding that Parliament has disciplinary powers as vested in Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution.

Comfort Doyoe, the leader of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament and first deputy whip of the majority group, also weighed in, urging Annoh-Dompreh to reconsider escalating the matter to the Privileges Committee. She offered to personally address the situation with Emefa Hardcastle, acknowledging the matter as one between a woman and a man.

“Mr. Speaker, the woman has apologised already, so I am pleading with the Chief Whip to leave the matter to the women and me, as the head of the Women’s Caucus, to advise her on how to address issues when she is in our premises and Parliament,” Doyoe said.

The incident has highlighted tensions within Parliament, and the calls for resolution emphasize the importance of maintaining decorum and respect among its members.

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