Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Deputy Minority Whip and MP for Weija-Gbawe, has firmly denied causing the physical confrontation that erupted in Parliament during the vetting of ministerial nominees in late January 2025.
The chaotic incident, which involved MPs clashing and damaging parliamentary property, forced a suspension of proceedings on the night of January 30. Shaib, who was at the center of the melee, has now offered his account of the events in an interview on Starr Chat with Bola Ray.
He explained that both parliamentary leaderships had agreed beforehand to vet only three nominees that evening, expecting to finish by 8 pm. Plans to add two more high-profile candidates were later discussed but were disrupted when the vetting of the initial three extended until 11 pm.
Despite opposition from the minority side, the majority insisted on proceeding with the additional vetting, particularly for nominee Kwabena Mintah Akandor, sparking tensions and disagreement.
Shaib said he positioned himself between tables on the minority side as a defensive measure amid the escalating confrontation and dismissed reports that he had deliberately instigated the brawl as “propaganda.”
Describing the incident as “regrettable” and “unfortunate,” Shaib expressed sadness over the fallout but maintained that he was not responsible for the disruption.
The MP, who was among four lawmakers suspended by Speaker Alban Bagbin following the incident, criticized the decision, asserting that had his side of the story been heard, the outcome would have been different.
Shaib’s account sheds new light on the parliamentary clash, emphasizing the breakdown in communication and rising tensions between the minority and majority factions during a critical vetting process.
