Haruna Iddrisu Demands Apology from Petroleum Commission CEO Over Verbal Altercation

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South and Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a public apology from Emeafa Hardcastle, Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission, over comments allegedly directed at the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
The incident reportedly occurred during a brief recess of the Appointments Committee, prior to the vetting of Defence Minister-Designate Dr. Edward Omane Boamah. According to reports, Hardcastle and Annoh-Dompreh engaged in a heated exchange, during which Hardcastle allegedly made remarks challenging the Minority Chief Whip’s authority, referring to him as part of a “micro-minority.”
Annoh-Dompreh, in response, indicated he would take action over the comments, raising concerns about the tone and nature of Hardcastle’s statements.
Addressing the matter in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu condemned Hardcastle’s remarks, stating they undermined the reputation of an elected MP and called for a public apology.
“The Minority Chief Whip has every justification to demand that this House stands united in condemning the conduct of the Acting CEO. We demand an apology but appeal to him not to escalate the matter further,” Haruna stated.
Iddrisu also emphasized the importance of protecting parliamentary integrity and urged Parliament to send a clear message that its members should be respected, citing Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, which vests disciplinary powers in the legislature.
Women’s Caucus Intervenes
Comfort Doyoe, First Deputy Whip of the majority group and leader of Parliament’s Women’s Caucus, also addressed the issue. She appealed to Annoh-Dompreh to withdraw his request for the Speaker to escalate the matter to the Privileges Committee.
“The woman has already apologised, and as the leader of the Women’s Caucus, I will personally address the matter with her and offer guidance on how to handle such issues in Parliament,” Doyoe said.
The intervention from the Women’s Caucus aims to de-escalate tensions, emphasizing dialogue and reconciliation over further disciplinary action.
Conclusion
The incident has drawn attention to decorum within parliamentary premises and the importance of fostering mutual respect between public officials and members of Parliament. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether the Minority Chief Whip will heed calls to forgo escalating the matter.