The Appointment Committee of Parliament is expected to recommend the approval of eight out of 10 minister-designates it vetted, myjoyonline.com has learnt.
The approval of Senior minister-designate Osafo Maafo and Energy minister-designate Boakye Agarko has been frozen for the time being.
The eight set to go through are Alan Kyerematen for Trade Ministry, the Finance minister-designate Ken Ofori-Atta and and the Defence Minister-designate, Mr Dominic Nitiwul.
The rest are National Security Minister-designate, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah; Attorney-General and Justice Minister-designate, Ms Gloria Akuffo, and the Minister designate for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery.
Foreign Affairs, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and the Minister designate for Local Government & Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama are also expected to make the 8-name list to get the nod for approval by Parliament.
The two left out have some pending issues to resolve with the committee before their nominations can be submitted for approval.
The Committee was not convinced by Osafo Maafo's response to a controversy surrounding ethnocentric comments he allegedly made.
The former Finance Minister was alleged to have said in 2015 that Ghanaians who do not hail from five resource-rich regions should not be in sensitive positions to control resources.
An audio recording of his alleged comments during a party function went viral.
At his vetting last Friday, Yaw Osafo Maafo insisted his comments were doctored and rejected suggestions that he should render an apology.
'Mr. Chairman I cannot apologise for what I have not said' he charged.
Joy News has learnt, the Appointments Committee wants to full tape to be played to satisfy itself whether the comments were ethnocentric.
The Energy minister-designate Boakye Agyarko also run into controversy with the Committee with the claim that the World Bank put pressure on the ex-president to take a decision on a gasification policy, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka revealed to Joy FM's Super Morning SHow Tuesday.
"For the nominee to say the World Bank was breathing down the neck of former President Mahama, it was very much uncalled for", the Asawase MP Muntaka said.
Muntaka said the comment draws out the Minority MPs to demand evidence. 'Then you put yourself in the den", he said adding the nominee tried to do politics during the vetting.
"Knowing the rules we [can] insist on evidence. Can I have the letter that they [World Bank] wrote? Now you would be found wanting because you can't find the audio, you can't find any document to prove and make your case stronger." he said.
Muntaka said MPs are free to do politics but for a nominee to do this only sets up a confrontation. "Do youself the favour not to go into the politicking"
It is not clear yet when the Committee will conclude matters involving the two nominees.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Please leave Akuapim men alone
I don't doubt Osafo Marfo's competence but I think this senior minister role is unnecessary! How can you have triplication or quadruplication of roles namely senior minister,chief of staff,executive secretary,and minister for monitoring and evaluation! Oh ho! Then we have trade and industry and business development ministry too! Nana,please you can't please all those who helped you win the election.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THE PARLIAMENT OF GHANA EXPLAINS TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF GHANA THE DETAILS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. AGAIN I THINK THE ISSUES THAT THE MINORITY IS USING TO OPPOSE THE APPROVAL OF HON. OSAFO MARFO AND HON. AGYARKO HAVE NO GROUNDS. GHANAIANS REMEMBER WHAT AMA BENEWA DOE AND FIIFI KWETTEY SAID BUT THEY WERE STILL APPROVED BY THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. STOP THAT YOUR INCOMPETENCE AND APPROVE THE COMPETENT MEN TO GET TO WORK. THE MINORITY IS FULL OF BITTERNESS.
Agyarko and marfo thought they were on a campaign platform. Next time draw your lines properly
Minority members on f committee.pls do u need nokofioo. 0Mr president pls invite the minority over to d jubilee house tmrw. Man is not a goat. Hahahaha
At the plenary session of the house, a vote will be used to approve or disapprove them. That is where NPP is going to use its majority advantage to approve them. The NDC should be thinking of how they are going to face the Special Prosecutor . I don't have any problem with the NDC, at least they are showing some muscles, knowing vividly that NPP will approve the nominees in the end. LET THEM SOME MUSCLES HAHAHAHA.
'If you cannot beat them then you join them.' It is about time the NDC/PNDC understand what is good for Ghana. These two guys are the real people who are going to make the NPP what it is. Safo Marfo and Agyarko will make Ghana a wonderland where every able body will be working with his or her two hands to change his/her destiny. These guys should join the government to set the ball rolling don't hold them up committee or no committe, because Rawlings brought these NDCmembers with no vetting committes. Lets go...........kwaku singapore
This is hogwash. Look at the majority allowing the small boys like muntaka, ahi, okudzeto and Sufuyani to throw tantrums. The only person showing strength is adwoa Safo. The NPP members on the panel are all behaving like akuapim men. The chairman must show muscle and knock out all the pretenders.
I am appalled at the deliberate attempt to discredit accomplished men. The minority cannot thwart the approval of the President's nominees. The majority should use their numbers to push for the approval of the nominees. The vetting has turned inquisitorial, and Vedanta on nominees.
Osafo Marfo and Agyarko are the best guys for the job. Evidence of what? NDC feels exposed from the revelations of Agyarko. Majority in Parliament should push them through. Its about Ghana not NDC. Fiifi Quartey said no moslem can lead Ghana. Muntaka Pampers is not even fit to be called honourable how much more vetting committee. God bless Ghana