Ahiafor is not feeble – Afenyo-Markin supports vetting chair’s leadership
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has defended the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, against claims of weakness, insisting that he has acted in good faith throughout the vetting process.
During an interview with Emefa Apawu on Joy News, Afenyo-Markin revealed that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) members have attempted to exert pressure on the chairman.
“There are things I may not disclose here, but let me give you a bit of it. There are members on the NDC side who come… maybe you don’t watch TV carefully, but if you do, you will see it. The chairman is very cooperative when we go for vetting meetings, and what we agree on, he follows through,” he stated.
He further stressed that Ahiafor has remained firm in his decisions despite facing internal opposition.
“He has always acted in good faith, but he has come under heavy criticism for being weak. Bernard is not weak. He’s not. Just because he allows fairness in the process doesn’t mean he lacks strength,” Afenyo-Markin argued.
According to him, some individuals within the party, whom he referred to as “hawks,” have persistently challenged Ahiafor’s decisions.
“There are some hawks who always approach him, saying, ‘Why are you allowing this? Why are you allowing that?’” he disclosed.
Although he refrained from naming these individuals, he urged observers to watch past vetting videos to identify them.
“When Ricketts-Hagan took over as Vice Chairman in an acting capacity, these same people came and whispered to him, asking why he was allowing things to go a certain way. Go and watch all vetting proceedings from past years, and you’ll see the pattern,” he remarked.
Afenyo-Markin questioned why previous vetting committee chairs were allowed extended hours for questioning nominees, while similar allowances today are met with resistance.
“Why are people not being fair? Previous chairs had unlimited hours. Why is it an issue now?” he quizzed.
