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.
|
| |
|
|
|
