The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, and Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin engaged in a heated exchange during the vetting of the Finance Minister-designate, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on Monday, 13 January 2025.

The disagreement arose when Afenyo-Markin criticised President John Dramani Mahama for allegedly not adhering to the required procedures for his first ministerial appointment nominations.

He argued that the communication notifying the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, about the nominees should have been signed directly by the President, as stipulated by Standing Order 65(1). "Let me address a few concerns of the Minority caucus on the notification of Parliament of the nominees.

Before we openly examine the individuals and their merit, we must address a procedural misstep that casts a shadow on the integrity of this process.