The National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) has warned that it will be a bad precedent for parliament to approve the nomination of Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister-designate Otiko Djaba since she never did her national service.
Ms Djaba’s fate hangs in the balance as both the Majority and Minority caucuses of parliament could not reach consensus on her approval.
A graduate of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ms Djaba told parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, 30 January: “I did not do national service because I was not in Ghana,” when the question was put to her by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
Ghanaian students who graduate from accredited tertiary institutions are required by law to do a one-year national service to the country.
According to the association, the country risks setting a bad example if lawmakers continue to endorse government appointees who fail to meet constitutional requirements.
The Greater Accra Regional President of the association, Kwadwo Danquah, emphasised in an interview with Class FM’s Jerry Akonnor that “it will serve a very bad precedent” adding: “We wish she will be disapproved.”
Mr Danquah said national service is “mandatory, therefore, if we have people at the helm of affairs going to occupy the highest office of ministerial position and that person has not fulfilled what is required of him or her, it is not the right thing.”
He stated that he would be very “disappointed” in the leadership of parliament if they turned a blind eye to Ms Djaba’s failure to undertake her national service and approve her.
He was of the view that previous approvals of nominees who did not participate in national service “does not mean that it should continue” insisting: “What is wrong is wrong!”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
