POLITICS

It’s not a matter of 10 or 15 years at the bar – How Afenyo-Markin squared up to Nana Ato Dadzie

The Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, engaged in a verbal tussle with Nana Ato Dadzie, the counsel for social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, during his appearance before the committee on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

The committee members, feeling scandalised by the comments made by Barker-Vormawor, a social activist, demanded an apology and retraction.

However, Ato Dadzie, in his defence of his client, continued to emphasise that the comments were not intended to disparage the committee members.

Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Minority Leader, appeared displeased with the renowned lawyer’s approach to handling the issue and angrily interrupted.

Acknowledging the venerable lawyer’s experience and knowledge and expressing his respect for him, Afenyo-Markin, in a fit of anger, questioned whether they were ready to issue the apology or not. He expressed his frustration over how the matter was being prolonged.

“Counsel, with the greatest respect as we sit here, very respected senior citizens of this country are engaging us. We were initially divided on this matter, so please help your client. We respect you, and I’m sure he [Vormawor] knows why he chose you. You are a respected counsel. Are you issuing an unqualified apology? If not, let’s close this matter,” he queried.

The Effutu lawmaker added that Ato Dadzie’s references to his years of experience and time spent practising law was irrelevant and would not contribute to resolving the issue, insisting that an apology was necessary to bring the matter to a close.

“The speaker is of the view that we should manage this matter, and that is what we are doing, but when we give you the chance, you say you’ve spent 15 years at the bar and so on. No, Nana Ato Dadzie, this is not an NDC or NPP matter. We want to solve it, but this is not a matter of 10 or 15 years at the bar, we are solving a problem.”

After the outburst from Afenyo-Markin, Barker-Vormawor was given the platform to apologise, and he did so with an assurance that he would delete the post, which incurred the spleen of the committee members.

Watch the video below:

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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