A violent incident at a ministerial screening session on Thursday led to the two-week suspension of four members by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
The parliamentarians who were suspended, Jerry Shai, Alhassan Tampuuli, Frank Annor-Dompreh, and Rockson Dafeamakpor, were punished on Friday for what Bagbin called a “gross affront to the dignity of parliament and a blatant contempt of the House.”
Four parliamentarians were suspended for two weeks for “contemptus parlamenti in facie parlamenti,” according to what was obtained.
The conflict arose during the screening of the ruling National Democratic Congress’s ministry nominees.
The vetting committee was accused by lawmakers from the opposition New Patriotic Party of hurrying the process, while members of the NDC claimed that the opposition was purposefully slowing down the process by asking lengthy questions.
As the NPP’s parliamentary leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, interrogated Samuel George, the communications ministry nominee, for more than five hours, tensions escalated.

The brawl started because the committee members were frustrated by the extended interrogation.
Lawmakers traded blows, microphones were broken, and furniture was on top.
The event is being investigated by a special seven-member commission, which is due to report back in ten days.
Furthermore, the allowances of those held liable will be reduced by the cost of repairing any damaged parliamentary property.
Ghanaian politicians have engaged in violent altercations during legislative sessions for the third time in four years.
Similar instances happened in 2021 during the debates on the electronic transaction levy bill and during the election of a new speaker.