Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the Member of Parliament for Pusiga, has described a disturbing encounter during the ministerial vetting session on January 30, in which the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on committee clerk, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah.
Appearing before the investigative committee, Ayamba recounted the events, saying, “As soon as the Minority entered, I witnessed a direct and unprovoked attack by the Minority Leader on the clerk, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah.”
She explained that the verbal confrontation made her uncomfortable, and as a woman, she felt compelled to intervene. “It made me uncomfortable, and it went on for some time before I felt the need to stand up,” Ayamba said.
The situation escalated when the chairman instructed the clerk to administer the oath to the nominee—something she had already done. Ayamba noted that the ongoing aggression prevented Jiagge-Gobah from proceeding with her duties.
In an effort to calm the situation, Ayamba encouraged the clerk, urging her to follow the chairman’s instructions and proceed with administering the oath.
As tensions rose, some Minority members reportedly directed disparaging comments at Jiagge-Gobah, questioning her political allegiance and making personal attacks. Ayamba, visibly upset, turned to the Minority Leader and said, “She is a dignified woman, and with that, she doesn’t have to be spoken to in that way. Please, can you stop?” She described her protest as a stand for respect and dignity.
“I could not just sit there and allow this to happen,” Ayamba continued. “As a woman, I felt it was my responsibility to stand up for Gifty. She deserves respect, and I could not let such behavior go unchecked,” she added.
