Our only option was to stay and make the place ungovernable — NPP MP for New Juaben South Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi

The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, has defended the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the Appointments Committee sittings on 30 and 31 January, describing them as a necessary move by the Minority to ensure proper scrutiny of ministerial nominees.

Addressing constituents in Koforidua, Okyere Baafi stated that the disruption was a deliberate strategy to prevent the Majority from pushing through the vetting process without adequate oversight. He explained that if the Minority had staged a walkout, the Majority—holding a numerical advantage—would have proceeded unchallenged, bypassing critical questioning of nominees.

The situation escalated into a physical confrontation, leading to damage of parliamentary property, including consoles, cables, and tables. The disorder raised serious concerns about the state of parliamentary decorum and the lengths to which both sides were willing to go in their political manoeuvring.

In response to the incident, a special committee has been established to investigate, reviewing video footage and testimonies to determine responsibility and propose measures to prevent future occurrences.

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Despite standing by the Minority’s actions, Okyere Baafi expressed regret over the chaos and extended an apology to the public. He urged citizens to understand the context, emphasizing that their resistance was essential in holding the Majority accountable.

“There were only seven of us in the caucus present, and if we had left, they would have vetted Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that night without public scrutiny,” he stated. “The only option we had was to stay and make the place ungovernable.”