Parliament’s Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has issued an apology to the Clerk of the Appointments Committee, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, after previously accusing her of partisanship.
Speaking during the February 4 sitting of Parliament, Afenyo-Markin addressed the controversy directly, stating, “Let me say to the Clerk of the Appointments Committee, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, I am sorry.”
This apology comes after Afenyo-Markin accused Jiagge-Gobah of carrying out her duties with a bias, claiming she operated like a “typical NDC member.”
He had also raised concerns about her alleged failure to cooperate with Minority members, accusing her of late notice circulation and not providing timely copies of reports for review before committee sittings.
In an earlier statement, he threatened her removal, calling her “partisan.”
However, in his apology, the Minority Leader extended his regret not only to the Clerk but also to her family, saying, “I also apologize to her husband and children, as well as her relatives who have been emotionally affected by my utterances.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, had earlier condemned Afenyo-Markin’s remarks, calling them inappropriate. The 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, also joined in condemning the actions, stating that Afenyo-Markin’s conduct was uncalled for and unbecoming of a parliamentarian.
In an exclusive interview Ahiafor said that if the Minority wanted to continue working with the Appointments Committee, they needed to work with Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, emphasizing that the Clerk had been a long-serving member of Parliament for 19 years and did not deserve such public denigration.
Ahiafor also expressed his personal apology to Jiagge-Gobah, calling for a formal apology from Afenyo-Markin, adding, “She is a mother and deserves respect.”
