Minority demands removal of special committee chairman over bias allegations
The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the special committee investigating the disorderliness at the Appointments Committee’s hearing last Thursday and Friday.
The caucus accused Emmanuel Bedzrah of bias, prejudgment, witness-tampering, and conflict of interest, arguing that his continued presence could undermine the credibility of the committee’s work.
“The Minority Caucus strongly urges the immediate replacement of Honourable Bedzrah to restore credibility to the committee’s work. Only through a fair, unbiased, and transparent process can we ensure that the findings of the committee are accepted and its recommendations duly implemented,” a spokesperson for the caucus stated.
At a press conference to explain the Minority’s absence from the ongoing confirmation hearings, Anyimadu-Antwi emphasized the need for an impartial leader to restore confidence in the investigative process.
“The gravity of this matter necessitates the appointment of an impartial and untainted chair who commands the trust of all stakeholders, including witnesses, members of Parliament, and the general public,” he stated.
Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, a member of the Minority and MP for Konongo, explained that the caucus decided to withdraw from the committee’s probe to uphold the integrity and impartiality of the investigative process.
He recalled that on February 4, 2025, the Speaker directed that the ad hoc committee should continue its work and submit recommendations to the House for deliberation. The Speaker also emphasized that proceedings should not be conducted in public.
Anyimadu-Antwi noted that the Minority agreed with this position, recognizing that public hearings on such matters could compromise the efficiency of the process. However, he criticized the committee’s handling of witnesses, stating that all witnesses were called to speak in each other’s presence, which he argued was inappropriate.
“Tuesday when we had sat, all the witnesses were together, and we called them one by one and each witness spoke to the hearing of all. This is not done, but we needed to do that because it was a public hearing. If a person leaves and goes to the next office, they can even watch it on their phone, and we think this is not right,” he remarked.
In light of these concerns, the Minority formally recused itself from the committee and called on the Speaker to reconstitute it by removing the chairman.
“This decision was taken by the entire Minority Caucus, and among other things, we raised issues of bias, prejudice, witness-tampering, and conflict of interest on the part of Honourable Bedzrah, which undermines the credibility of the committee’s work,” Anyimadu-Antwi asserted.
He elaborated on claims of bias, referencing a widely circulated media interview on January 25, in which Bedzrah allegedly accused the Minority Leader of attempting to derail the committee’s work. “
The Minority Leader instructed the Clerk to the committee to halt the committee’s work, and he does not want the hearing to continue,” he quoted the chairman as saying. Anyimadu-Antwi argued that these remarks preemptively attributed guilt to the Minority Leader before he had the opportunity to respond, violating principles of fairness and due process.
“By making such a statement before the Minority Leader was even allowed to respond, the committee chairman has displayed a clear lack of objectivity and an overt bias that disqualifies him from continuing in his role as the chair,” he said.
He also cited an interview Bedzrah granted on January 23, where he reportedly declared that he had identified culprits within the Minority Caucus responsible for the disorderly conduct and intended to draft a negative report against them if they refused to appear before the committee. Anyimadu-Antwi described this as a breach of impartiality, stating,
“These comments are a blatant violation of the principles of fairness. The role of the chair is to facilitate impartial inquiry and not to prejudge or assume guilt before the accused has been given an opportunity to defend themselves.”
The Minority also raised concerns over alleged witness-tampering, accusing Bedzrah of engaging in private conversations with potential witnesses before their formal appearances. Anyimadu-Antwi described this conduct as improper interference, suggesting an attempt to influence testimonies in a way that could compromise the integrity of the investigation.
“All engagements with witnesses must be conducted transparently and strictly through official parliamentary clerks to ensure impartiality. The chairman’s action in this regard significantly undercuts the credibility of the investigative process and provides further justification for his removal as the chairman,” he said.
Source: Hannah Addae
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