The Appointments Committee of Parliament will
Friday vet four of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Ministerial
nominees. Senior Minister Designate Yaw Osafo Maafo, National Security
Minister Designate, Albert Kan Dapaah, Finance Minister Designate Ken Ofori
Atta, and Defence Minister Designate Dominic Nitiwul will be appearing before
the committee today, Friday, January 20, 2017.
The Minority has vowed to
grill the ministerial nominees, promising that the process would be different
from the usual rubber-stamping that has characterised the process in the
past.
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, says the Minority will uphold the
Constitution by conducting a thorough background check of the nominees to ensure
that all of them meet the basic requirement spelt out in the country's laws for
ministers of state.
He said his colleagues would explore issues such as
the “moral turpitude, fraud” among the appointees.
The four ministerial
appointees will open the Parliamentary process that is expected to vet some 35
persons nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo on
Friday.
Controversy
But the Curriculum Vitae (CVs) which
contained the academic and professional credentials of the nominees were
furnished to Parliament’s Appointment Committee less than 24 hours to the start
of the exercise.
Former Deputy Housing Minister, Samson Ahi had told Joy
News the minority might consider boycotting the vetting process if they are not
furnished with the documents early.
However, the First Deputy Speaker of
Parliament, Joe Osei Wusu told Joy News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Joseph
Gakpo the lamentations of the National Democratic Congress MP was
needless.
He said his office and that of others were served with copies
of the CVs less than 15 hours to the exercise, adding the process would be
transparent.
Mr Iddrisu who is also on the committee has confirmed to Joy
News that copies of the CVs have been delivered to them.
“I can confirm
that before we left our offices this [Thursday] evening copies were given to the
minority leaders so we look forward to tomorrow [Friday],” he said.
He
said the Committee would quiz the nominees to test their “appreciation of
policies, understanding of policies and their area of competence.”
The
Tamale South MP said they would ensure the government does not create a
portfolio to undermine the “powers” of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu
Bawumia.
“We are mindful of duplication of roles that will undermine the
efficiency of government and policy intervention,” he said.
He decried
the size of government, saying the nominated 35 ministers will be a drain on the
nation’s limited resources especially when the president had promised to protect
the nation’s purse.
“There are many role conflicts,” he said, asking who
would the Senior Minister, and Monitoring and Evaluation Minister report
to.
“We are not enthused by the decisions of the President. Apparently,
we will hold them to policy pledges made to the people of Ghana with the
appointment that they have made,” he added.
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