Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba has been approved by Parliament, after the House subjected her approval to a vote.
PeaceFM's Parliamentary Correspondent reports that "152 legislators voted in support of her approval, more than the required half" of the votes of the 275-member house.
According to him, "No vote was recorded against her nomination as the Minority abstained from voting".
Before her approval, Hon. Otiko Djaba was faced with a barrage of criticisms over her inability to do national service.
The Minority Caucus on the Appointments Committee abstained from approving her nomination citing her inability to undertake her national service as well as her posture during her vetting as reasons.
However, the Committee as a whole recommended Ms Djaba and other nominees for approval by majority decision despite Ms Djaba’s refusal to apologise for her allegedly disparaging remarks about Former President John Dramani Mahama prior to last year's elections describing him as “evil", "wicked” and “an embarrassment” to people of the regions up north.
On Friday 3 February, the Minority in Parliament pushed for the vote to be cast immediately, but the Majority insisted the vote be deferred to today, Tuesday, February 7.
Debating Ms Djaba’s approval, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said: “She does not have our support and she will not have our support until she behaves in a manner befitting a minister.”
He maintained that the nominee's failure to participate in a one-year service to the nation after her undergraduate studies at the University for Development Studies disqualified her from public service.
Mr Iddrisu said he was “referring to Act 426 section 7 of the Constitution”, adding: “It is also a national obligation. She, in her answers, was forthright and was candid with the committee that ‘I have not done national service’. Therefore, can she work in the public service of Ghana and hold the high office of a minister of state?”
But, Suhum MP Frederick Opare-Ansah pointed out that the requirement of ministers is similar to that of parliamentarians and if parliamentarians were not requested to present a national service certificate before being cleared to contest as MPs, it would be needless to request for a national service certificate from Ms Djaba.
Peace FM News Bulletin at 6 pm, monitored by Peacefmonline.com, disclosed that Hon. Otiko Djaba has finally had a smooth ride to head the Ministry.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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I love your analogy. When someone has given you her love and you break her heart, she would definitely come after you. Mahama replied barwumia, Samira, nana addo and Freddy blay but was mute when this lady insulted him. Why because, he knew otiko could do her worst if he replied. The insult was someone taking her pound of flesh. I think she still loves mahama. When the meet somewhere and do it again, the insult would stop.
Approving her is not a problem at all, but when she begins to insult the clergy and other elderly persons, then NPP would realize their mistake and probably reshuffle her. As for the insult to mahama I think even my sister would have done the same. No woman would be happy with a man that has enjoyed her sweet potato and left her to marry another woman. John mahama had been billed to marry otiko, but after enjoying the thing for a while decided to go in for lordina. That makes him wicked and of an evil heart. After all otiko is quite beautiful too. Did you ever hear john mahama replying her direct, no. Because he knew he broke her heart.
Kwasi Ghana or whoever you call yourself. Ghana is proud to have Miss Otiko Djaba, who is truthful and bold. You are talking about arrogance. who is more arrogant than you babies with sharp teeth? You are the biggest fuu...ll as you just said.What does she lose without you? She doesn't need you and your st--u.p..i..d it ideas for they are ***barred word***.
VEEP, Barwumia would always be right. These guys are making incompetent decisions even in opposition. Their Leader wanted a Cantoment residence and now their MPs are confused at their easiest job. Hahaha. I know just when people are real and when they want attention. I have remembered my JHS science question: Differentiate noise from sound. You are Just making noise....
Is all Politics, Mama Otiko did not respect the ex President and with NDC solidarity, I will not smear the minority too much. However, upon standing orders we can approve of her through the house. The house have accepted at the President's nomination. Please, let us all move on with the procedure and build the nation. Ghana needs all minority and majority together. Hon Haruna Iddrisu, my colleague at SRC, advise your members that enough is enough. You did not support her but standing orders pushed her through. This is a wake up call even to Mama Otiko that she should be careful in the future and let us all work together. PLEASE ALLOW WAI
@Kwasi Ghana you can cry all the foul. Have you forgotten all that Fifi kwetey and Ama Benyiwa Doe said about Kuffour during their campaign prior to 2008 election? When they went to the vetting,because they were doing propaganda they were not bold enough to defend themselves and all that they said was it was a political talk. Otiko is not a coward to change her words. Who doesn't know JM is a wicked man? Very wicked man. Madam we love you. The almighty God will surely see you through your work at the Ministry.
Congrats, Madam. The NDC will only throw tantrums. Let them please themselves.
Lady Otiko Afisa Djaba simply qualifies for the ministry His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, the reigning chief executive of the republic, has assigned her. Ill-will and malignity will never work in the 7th parliament of the Fourth Republic. Let the minority go cleaning clean their dung packed stable.
ashe mo more
@ Kwasi Ghana, you can cry all you want. She has been approved. I will give my support any day to a person who follows and stands by her convictions no what the circumstances she faces. Call it whatever, the Ex President was wicked! Thumps up Otiko and congratulations.