Tempers flared at the Public Assurance Committee sitting on March 17, 2026, when the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, appeared before the committee.

What appeared to be attempts to share some light moments at the sitting by the minister did not sit well with some members of the Minority Caucus on the committee.

A video of the incident initially shows the Minister describing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Gushegu, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, as her “small boy” while she was clarifying an earlier statement.

She quipped that when she was a member of the National Service Scheme (NSS) Board, Tampuli was an NSS personnel.

“I would like to say that it was not targeted at my colleague, MP, who was a national service person when I was serving on the National Service Scheme board. Small boy,” she said.

“Mr Chairman, she said, ‘small boy’... No, it's fine. Mr Chairman, she must withdraw it. 2002 is 24 years ago. Mr Chairman, in May, I will be 50 years; I’m not a small boy like that,” the Gushegu MP responded.

The Chairman of the committee and MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, intervened and asked Emelia Arthur to withdraw her comment.

“Honourable Minister, if you really use that word, please, immediately,” Nitiwul demanded.

Emelia Arthur, who is also the MP for Shama, obliged the chairman’s order. Another joke she added, however, infuriated Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the MP for Weija-Gbawe.

“Mr Chairman, it was said in jest. I withdraw, eh? He says, you'll be 50 in May. I'll be 60 this year,” she punned.

This comment did not sit well with Jerry Ahmed, who accused the minister of being disrespectful.

The mood of Emelia Arthur, who initially wore a smile throughout her commentary, changed as she hit back at Jerry Ahmed.

“Did I just hear honourable Jerry say I don't respect? Did I just hear honourable Jerry say I don't respect? What is disrespectful about this?... When I was asked to withdraw, I said, ‘I said it in jest, and I withdraw’. What is disrespectful about this?” she fumed.

Watch a video of the clash below:

“My colleague MP was a National Service Person when I was serving on the National Service Scheme Board—Small boy”

-During yesterday’s Public Assurance Committee Sitting, a member of the committee, Hon. Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana clashed with the Minister for Fisheries and… pic.twitter.com/05RtBN1iDN

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) March 18, 2026