Political scientist Mohammed Abass has said parliament’s Appointments Committee should look to claw back some credibility by improving its performance with regards to the standard of questions posed to ministerial nominees during the next round of vetting.
The committee has been at the centre of a bribery controversy in the last few days after Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga alleged that then-Energy Minister-designate Boakye Agyarko had offered cash through its chairman Joe Osei-Owusu, to be shared among Minority MPs on the committee.
Mr Ayariga had alleged that GHS3000 was paid to each of the NDC MPs by Minority Chief Whip Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, an amount they thought was sitting allowance for MPs on the committee, but returned the monies when they heard a rumour that the amount had actually come from Mr Agyarko to influence them to endorse his nomination as minister.
Mr Osei-Owusu and Mr Muntaka have both denied the allegation.
Speaking on Accra News on Sunday January 29, 2016, Mr Abass, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, said the latest development, despite the denials, sullies the reputation of the committee and adds to earlier complaints about the quality of questions directed at Ministers-designate who have appeared before it.
But the committee, the academic noted, can win back the respect and trust of the public if they carry out their duties more “creditably” in their subsequent sittings by probing appointees with “quality” and “relevant” questions.
“Everybody is watching them in light of these allegations against them. If they are able to carry out their duties more creditably, I am sure people will be willing to clear them of all that has happened. Everything will depend on them and how they respond to the two critical issues against them – bribery and quality of questions. This is the time for them to disprove the allegations of bribery against them,” he advised.
Mr Abass further urged the MPs on the committee – whose performance he rated as “above 50 per cent” but “short of a grade A” – to shun “personal attacks”.
Parliament will on Monday January 30 resume the vetting of the remaining appointees of Mr Akufo-Addo, having cleared 13 of such persons who appeared before it.
On Monday 30th January, 2017, the committee will vet the following Ministers-designate: Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Monitoring and Evaluation; Ms Otiko Afisah Djaba, Gender, Children and Social Protection; Dan Kwaku Botwe, Regional Reorganisation and Development.
On Tuesday 31 January, 2017, John Peter Amewu, (Lands and Natural Resources); Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, (Employment and Labour Relations); Samuel Atta Akyea (Works and Housing) will take their turn.
The following day, Wednesday February 1 2017, will see Ursula Owusu-Ekuful – Communications; Joseph Kofi Adda – Sanitation and Water Resources; and Kwasi Amoako Atta – Roads and Highways, appearing before the committee.
Transport Minister-designate Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng – Minister-designate, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; and Joe Nana Ghartey, Minister-designate for Railways Development, will appear on Thursday 2nd February, 2017.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
