A heated argument in Ghana’s parliament turned physical on Thursday night, with lawmakers destroying furniture and engaging in shouting matches.
The chaos erupted during a meeting to vet new ministerial appointments, with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) accused of deliberately prolonging the questioning process.
The cross-party committee was scheduled to vet three lawmakers from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), but the process was disrupted by disagreements over the questioning.
NDC MPs accused the NPP’s leader in parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, of using the vetting process to settle political scores.
The chairman of the vetting committee apologized to the Ghanaian public on Friday morning, calling the chaos “totally unacceptable.”
The NPP’s Afenyo-Markin defended the party’s actions, saying that parliamentary customs allowed for thorough questioning of the nominees.
The vetting process was adjourned until Friday due to the chaos, which is the latest development in the country’s tense political landscape.
This incident is not the first time Ghana’s parliament has witnessed chaos, as soldiers stormed the chamber in January to restore calm during the election of a new speaker.
