Former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, has raised concerns about the leadership style of his successor, Bernard Ahiafor, during committee proceedings.
In an interview on Joy News’ Upfront on January 16, Osei Owusu criticized Ahiafor’s approach, describing it as unnecessarily aggressive and at odds with his own style. “I haven’t even watched any of the proceedings,” he said. “But I’ve seen, in a particular case forwarded to me, that my friend chairman was needlessly raising his voice and showing a tendency to display machoism.”
Osei Owusu emphasized his preference for professionalism and collaboration during his tenure. “We are all colleagues, and our duty is to ensure the nominee meets the constitutional requirements and can perform the job they’ve been nominated for,” he added.
Reflecting on his own methods, he admitted to being firm but dismissed claims of inflexibility. “I believe strongly in the rules, in law and order. If you go off track, I’ll bring you back,” he explained.
He attributed his no-nonsense style to his legal background, focusing on efficiency during proceedings. “I ensure questions are straight to the point. I don’t like unnecessary commentary before a question is asked,” he said. “Often, people spend five minutes on commentary and ask a one-minute question. Those are the things I tried to avoid.”
While Osei Owusu refrained from offering direct advice to Ahiafor, his remarks suggested a need for a more measured and collegial approach. He stressed that the committee’s primary role is to assess nominees’ qualifications without unnecessary confrontations.
His comments highlight contrasting leadership styles within the Appointments Committee and the challenge of balancing adherence to rules with effective communication and decorum.