The Majority Chief Whip of Parliament, Nelson-Rockson Dafeamekpor, has publicly accepted responsibility for the chaotic events during the Appointments Committee’s sitting on January 30, 2025, which led to clashes between the majority and minority sides of the House.
In an address to the special committee investigating the incident, Dafeamekpor acknowledged that leadership played a crucial role in the outcome, stating, “I take responsibility, so when my punishment came, I took it in good faith.”
His comments came after public property was destroyed, leading to the formation of an investigative committee by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
During his statement, Dafeamekpor reflected on the disagreements that surrounded the distribution of punishment for the disruption, noting that some felt he should not bear the brunt of the consequences.
“Others disagreed that essentially if punishment were to be meted out, it ought not to be me,” he explained.
Despite the dissent, Dafeamekpor emphasized the importance of holding leaders accountable when things go wrong, underscoring the role of leadership in shaping outcomes.
The Majority Chief Whip also discussed the failure of consensus-building efforts that ultimately led to the chaos, attributing the escalation to certain individuals who insisted on disrupting the proceedings.
“Once they decided to disrupt, raise tables, raise chairs, what can I do?” he questioned, expressing regret over the events.
He concluded by suggesting that reforms could be introduced to streamline parliamentary processes and prevent similar disturbances in the future.
“A lot of things ought to be streamlined,” he said, signaling the need for changes moving forward.
