The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments has scheduled Friday, October 26 and Monday, October 29, 2018 to vet the newly elevated and nominated Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the State.
This follows a ministerial reshuffle by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after consultation with the Council of State.
The Appointments Committee on Friday, October 26, 2018 will vet Minister-designate for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Cynthia Morrison and Minister-designate for the Upper East region, Mrs. Paulina Tangaba Abayage.
On Monday, October 29, 2018, the Committee is expected to vet Minister-designate for the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Evans Opoku Bobie, Deputy Minister-designate for Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Martin Oti Gyako and Deputy Minister-designate for the Eastern Region, Mr. Samuel Nuertey Ayertey.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Aaron Oquaye announced the nomination of President Akufo-Addo during the emergency recall of Parliament, and informed the House to consider the nomination.
It was expected that the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kwaku Ansomah-Cheremeh who is the current Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, would be vetted on his new portfolio.
Minority Leaders Position
Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee and Minority Leader, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, averred that Mr. Kwaku Ansomah-Cheremeh must go through parliamentary vetting since his new portfolio constitutes elevation.
In his submission on the floor of the House during the recall, he argued that since the current Brong Ahafo Regional Minister represented the President at the region and had been nominated as a substantive Sector Minister, he should be vetted for approval by parliament.
The Minority Leader who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Tamale South reiterated that it was important for Parliament to vet Mr. Ansomah-Cheremeh to test his knowledge on his hew portfolio and find out whether he is competent to handle that ministry.
Majority Leaders reaction
The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, pointed out that Parliament must interrogate Mr. Ansomah-Cheremeh on his new portfolio through parliamentary vetting.
The Majority Leader, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Suame, stated that the Minority Leader was right in his argument of vetting the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources.
Adding to the Minority Leaders concern on competence, Mr. Kyei-Mensah Bonsu indicated in an interview with ghanajustice.com that, the competence level of Mr. Ansomah-Cheremeh must be verified.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
