Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has shared how the traditional rulers he invited to support him during his vetting on January 30, 2025, had to make a swift exit due to the disorder that erupted during the session.
Appearing before the special committee as a witness, Ablakwa recalled that he arrived with the chiefs, expecting a routine vetting process.
However, the atmosphere quickly became turbulent, forcing them to leave abruptly.
He stated that although his vetting was initially set for 12:30 pm, it was postponed until 8 pm. Ablakwa further recounted that upon arrival, they encountered fierce opposition from Minority members, who challenged his presence and insisted that he would not be vetted.
“We expected to be vetted that evening, and we also expected that our chiefs and other eminent guests would receive an apology for the delay from 12:30 PM to 8 PM. However, to our surprise, as we entered the room, we faced hostility. The Minority members became furious when they saw me entering with my delegation. They demanded to know why I was there and insisted that I would not be vetted.
“I was really taken aback. I was surprised because I had my invitation letter, yet I was being told I was not supposed to be there. Meanwhile, members of the committee had informed me to come in. We had been waiting in a holding area, and the Chief Whip signalled that we could now proceed. When I entered, the Honorable Akandoh was about to take his turn.
“He was just about to be sworn in, and I was ushered to the third seat on my left to wait for my turn. After Honorable Akandoh, I was supposed to be vetted. Then, the hostility began, escalating into violence which was an utterly despicable scene,” Ablakwa recounted.
The North Tongu MP characterized the experience as both distressing and humiliating for him as a legislator.
He recounted how some paramount chiefs questioned whether such chaos was a regular occurrence in Parliament, while another, gripped by fear, hastily exited the scene.
Ablakwa suggested that, given the unsettling events of that night, some of the chiefs may be unwilling to accompany him to Parliament in the future.
“We were traumatized. I was deeply embarrassed as a member of Parliament. I recall paramount chiefs asking me, ‘Is this what you people do here? What is the meaning of this?’ One chief even told me he feared for his life. Some of them had to quickly escape because they were unsure if the violence based on the way tables were being overturned and destruction was taking place would escalate further.
“With microphones, PA systems, and other items being destroyed, some chiefs feared they might be hit and decided to flee. I am now wondering if they will ever be willing to honour an invitation to Parliament again after what happened that night.
“This incident must be condemned in no uncertain terms. Instead of apologizing for their despicable conduct and the trauma they caused to invited guests, they held a press conference the next day, falsely claiming that we had smuggled ourselves in. It was like adding insult to injury,” Ablakwa stated.
