After an unannounced pause on Wednesday, February 5, the Ad-Hoc Committee looking into the pandemonium that broke out during the January 30 vetting process will resume hearings on Friday, February 7, 2025.
In an interview with TV3 on Thursday, February 6, Committee Chairman Emmanuel Bedzrah affirmed the start of the new phase.
He explained that in order to address the issue of MPs’ involvement in the destruction of state property, Friday’s session would first feature public witness testimonies and then an in-camera discussion.
“We will hold a press conference today to update the public on our next steps. Tomorrow, we will proceed with the public hearings, followed by a private in-camera session focused on MPs implicated in the damage of state property,” Bedzrah explained.
The Clerk to Parliament withdrew staff, claiming that Speaker Alban Bagbin had not given his approval, and the probe was put on hold.
Bedzrah, however, said that Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin had deceived the Clerk by falsely blaming the Speaker for the suspension, and he accused the Minority caucus of having an influence on it.
“I contacted the Majority Leader and met with other parliamentary leaders, including the Clerk and committee members, to clarify the matter.”
“The Minority Leader later informed me that he had met with the Speaker and requested the hearing be adjourned before the suspension ruling was made,” Bedzrah recalled.
The committee will examine video footage from the events on January 30, identify important witnesses, and, at the end of the investigation, submit a report to Parliament on the destruction of legislative property.
It is anticipated that the reopening of hearings would clarify the roles played by MPs in the tragedy and throw light on the circumstances behind the tumultuous occurrences.
‘Source: newsthemegh.com