North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cautioned the leadership of the Appointments Committee of parliament against efforts to prevent members from asking ministerial nominees relevant questions when they appear before the committee for vetting.
According to him, allowing members to ask questions would be in the interest of the country as they seek to get the best persons to fill various ministerial portfolios in the country.
Speaking to Class News, the former Deputy Minister of Education (Tertiary) said: “It is important to note that previous Appointments Committees were allowed [to ask questions]. I served on the previous Appointments Committee, and some of the people today who are trying to mount barriers and erect barricades and are seeking to stifle proper scrutiny were on the other side and were allowed to go on and on… This is in the interest of our country and we all should be allowed to ask the relevant questions and to probe the nominees and make sure that at the end of the day we get the best out of them and the best for the country.”
“I want to give them (Chairman and Deputy Chair of the Appointments Committee) the benefit of the doubt… They have not done this before and for Adjoa Safo (Deputy Chairperson of the committee) she has not been on the committee before so we forgive her of her trespasses.”
Meanwhile, the committee will today, Monday 23 January, vet four more of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s ministerial appointees.
They are Alima Mahama – Local Government and Rural Development Minister-designate, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Agriculture Minister-designate, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen – Trade Minister-designate, and Mr Boakye Agyarko – Energy Minister-designate.
So far, six of the president’s 36 nominees have been vetted.
They include Senior Minister-designate Yaw Osafo Maafo, Finance Minister-designate Ken Ofori-Atta, Attorney-General & Justice Minister-designate Gloria Akuffo, Minister-designate for the Interior Ambrose Dery, Defence Minister-designate Dominic Nitiwul and Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister-designate of National Security.
Those to be vetted on Tuesday January 24 include Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister-designate of Foreign Affairs; Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, Minister-designate, Education; and Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister-designate, Health.
Below is the full list of members on the Appointments committee
Joseph Osei-Owusu (MP for Bekwai and First Deputy Speaker)-Chairman
Adwoa Safo (MP for Dome Kwabenya and Deputy Majority Leader)
Kwesi Ameyaw Cheremeh (MP for Sunyani East and Majority Chief Whip)
Dominic Nitiwul (MP for Bimbilla)
Samuel Atta Akyea (MP for Abuakwa South)
Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia South)
Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover (MP for Tema East)
Ursula G. Owusu-Ekuful (MP Ablekuma West)
Joseph Kofi Adda (Navrongo Central)
Joseph Cudjoe (Effia)
Patricia Apeagyei (Asokwa)
O.B. Amoah (Akwapim South)
Kofi Amoako Hene (Atebubu)
Anthony Karbo (Lawra)
Barbara Asher Ayisi (Cape Coast South)
Michael Yaw Gyato (Krachie)
Minority:
Haruna Iddrisu (Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South)
Ranking Member Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak (Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase)
Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central)
Sampson Ahi (Bodi)
Eric Opoku (Asunafo South)
Bernice Adiku Heloo (Hohoe)
Joseph Yieleh Chireh (Wa West)
Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye (Odododiodioo)
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu)
Alhassan Suhuyini (Tamale North)
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
