The Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, Jerry Ahmed Shaib has insisted that he did not cause the chaos that ensued in Parliament during the Appointments Committee vetting of ministerial nominees three months ago.
On the night of 30th January, 2025, a physical altercation broke out among Members of Parliament following disagreements regarding the postponement of the vetting of a couple of ministers-designate.
During the brawl, furniture and microphones were damaged, compelling leadership to suspend sitting.
Mr. Shaib, who was seen at the heart of the brawl, has explained how matters got feisty during the vetting.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Thursday, the Weija-Gbawe Member of Parliament (MP) said the leadership on both sides had originally agreed to vet three nominees on that fateful day.
He said in anticipation that the vetting was going to end by 8pm, they had had follow-up discussions about adding two more high profile nominees to the list.
However, the vetting of the initially agreed three ministers designate had travelled late to 11pm in the night, making it untenable to continue with two crucial nominees.
He said in spite of the minority’s opposition to continuing the vetting, the majority side were bent on carrying on with Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandor’s vetting which led to open disagreements.
Highlighting his own role in the brawl, he clarified that he decided to stand between the tables on the Minority side to protect himself.
Mr. Shaib observed that he had been disappointed with reports that he had intentionally positioned himself there to cause mayhem, calling such accounts “propaganda”.
“I don’t think it is an experience I find worthy. It was regrettable,” he averred. “It was an unfortunate incident. It was never intended. It was never anticipated.
“To the respected constituents of Weija Gbawe, it was unfortunate. I still feel sad about it, but to be honest with them, I did not cause any of the problems,” he told Bola Ray.
The lawmaker, who was suspended with three other MPs a day after the brawl, by Speaker Alban Bagbin, said had the Speaker listened to his side of the story, he would not have arrived at such a decision.
