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A fiery confrontation erupted in Ghana’s Parliament on January 28, 2025, as Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh (New Patriotic Party/NPP) and Acting Petroleum Commission CEO Emeafa Hardcastle engaged in a heated exchange over her description of the NPP caucus as a “micro minority.” The clash unfolding during a recess in Parliamentary Appointments Committee proceedings has ignited debates over decorum and political rhetoric.
The incident occurred amid deliberations by the committee on whether to suspend its work following bribery allegations leveled by activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor against its members. During a brief recess, tensions spilled into the corridors of Parliament when Hardcastle’s remark about the NPP’s minority status sparked a war of words.
According to eyewitness accounts, Annoh-Dompreh initially approached Dr. Omane for a discussion, prompting Hardcastle to urge a return to the ongoing vetting process. Annoh-Dompreh retorted, “We will not vet him today. You guys haven’t seen anything yet,” to which Hardcastle fired back, “You are a micro minority; what can you do?”
The NPP Chief Whip took immediate offense, demanding, “You call me micro minority? I will deal with you in public.” Hardcastle countered, “Who are you to deal with me?” The altercation escalated as Annoh-Dompreh accused her of calling him “silly,” a claim Hardcastle denied.
Wisdom Kwaku Deku, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and known on social media as Yayra Koku, contextualized the clash in a post, revealing he was seated beside Hardcastle during the incident. A video shared by Channel One TV captured Hardcastle defending her phrasing, stating, “Doesn’t Afenyo [Minority Leader] himself use that term?” while Annoh-Dompreh challenged her assertiveness: “You think you can bully me here?”
The clash has drawn scrutiny over the tone of political discourse in Ghana’s legislature. Observers question whether such exchanges undermine parliamentary decorum, particularly as the committee grapples with serious misconduct allegations. The NPP, currently in the minority, has faced heightened tensions since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed power in the recent government transition.
This incident highlights the fragile dynamics within Ghana’s political landscape, where procedural disagreements often intersect with personal confrontations. As stakeholders call for restraint, the focus remains on whether the Appointments Committee will resume its work or succumb to further disruptions.
“Political vigor must not eclipse respect,” remarked governance analyst Dr. Ama Serwah. “Such exchanges risk diverting attention from critical national issues to petty squabbles.”
The fallout from this clash underscores the challenges facing Ghana’s Parliament as it navigates accountability, transparency, and the pressures of partisan politics.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
