Minority Demands Resignation of Appointments Committee Clerk Over Alleged Bias

The Minority caucus in Parliament is calling for the immediate resignation of the Clerk of the Appointments Committee, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, accusing her of bias and unprofessional conduct in the vetting process.
The opposition MPs allege that the clerk has demonstrated open allegiance to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), thereby compromising the neutrality and fairness of the committee’s work.
Allegations of Partisanship
Addressing the media, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that the clerk’s actions had eroded trust in the vetting process.
“The clerk of the committee has made it clear that she is aligned with the NDC. We will formally write to the Clerk of Parliament to demand her removal from the Appointments Committee. She must either resign as a parliamentary staff or immediately change her approach,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Minority further accused the clerk of sidelining them in key aspects of the vetting process. They claimed that during their time in government, the same clerk ensured that the then-Minority had access to draft reports before they were signed. However, they argue that this practice has changed under the current administration, with reports now finalized without their input.
“When we were in government, this same clerk ensured that the Minority could review reports before they were signed by the Chairperson. Today, reports are signed without our knowledge, and we only see them for the first time when they reach the floor of Parliament,” Afenyo-Markin alleged.
Disputes Over Vetting Schedules
The Minority also raised concerns about last-minute changes to the vetting schedule, claiming that vetting notices have been issued at odd hours without prior consultation.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in Parliament following recent chaotic vetting sessions.
The Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament are yet to officially respond to the Minority’s demands.