The Appointments Committee of Parliament will resume work today [Monday, January 29th, 2017] hosting three ministerial nominees for vetting.
Joe Ghartey, the minister nominee for Railways Development; John Peter Amewu, the minister nominee for Lands and Forestry and Otiko Afisa Djaba, the minister nominee for Gender and Social Protection will take their turn before the committee to answer questions and prove their preparedness to occupy and serve in the portfolios they have been nominated for.
Parliament’s 26-member Appointments Committee suspended sitting last Wednesday [January 25] after vetting 13 out of the 36 ministerial nominees named by President Akufo-Addo.
The nominees scheduled to appear before the committee for the subsequent days are;
Tuesday
Anthony Akoto Osei
Samuel Atta Kyea
Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng
Wednesday
Ignatius Baffour –Awuah
Dan Kwaku Botwe
Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah
Thursday
Joseph Kofi Adda
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
Kwasi Amoako Atta
The Appointments Committee, chaired by the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Owusu will resume sitting after one of its members alleged that there was an attempt to bribe the minority side of the committee.
Mahama Ayariga, who made the allegation on Friday claimed the Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko through the Chairman of the committee [Osei-Owusu] to the minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed for onward disbursement to the minority members.
Although the Chairman and the Chief Whip have denied the claims, Mr Ayariga insists that his allegations were true and he was ready to defend them.
‘Appointments committee may be reviewed’
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the committee has hinted that he may call for a review of the committee to enable it carry out its mandate smoothly amidst the scandal.
Speaking in the Big Issue on Saturday, he said, he will make a statement on the floor of the house to that effect but is uncomfortable it may lead to the further postponement of sitting which will be unfair for nominees.
