Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, has voiced her concerns over the chaotic atmosphere during the vetting proceedings on Thursday January 30, 2025.
She said she felt unsafe and could not risk moving from her seat to anywhere considering the number of people in the room.
Tensions flared between the Minority and Majority members of the Appointments Committee over the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, leading to a heated standoff.
Disagreements arose when the Minority pushed for the session to be rescheduled to Friday, January 31, while the Majority insisted on proceeding as planned.
The impasse escalated into a physical altercation, with tables and microphones being dismantled in an apparent effort to stall the process.
Appearing before the Special Committee probing the vetting chaos in Accra on Friday February 7, Odoley Sowah emphasised the need to limit the number of guests allowed in the hall to ensure safety and order.
“I felt very unsafe but I had to be calm in my seat,” Sowah stated. “When you look at this hall and the number of people that come in, if there is any danger, where do you pass? I didn’t know what was going on outside this room, and so I didn’t want to risk going out—that’s why you saw me seated quietly in my chair.”
Sowah expressed her relief that the rules governing the vetting process will be adhered to, particularly concerning the number of visitors.
“I am happy that the rules governing this appointments vetting will be adhered to because the number of visitors that troop into this room is not the best,” she said, adding, “You have visitors or guests of appointees or nominees also joining in the argument.
“I saw some of them moving from where they were supposed to be and coming round the table, and I don’t think that’s the best.”
She called for a review of the procedures to ensure a safer environment.
“If we can consider the in and out and the number of people coming in, I think it will be the best for us. I really felt unsafe,” Sowah stated.
Content by : Abigail Arthur
