Parliament has unanimously approved the nomination of some six elevated ministers after going through vetting by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Appointments.
The report of the Committee was presented to the Plenary and the motion was moved by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr. Joseph Osei Owusu and, seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu.
Presenting the report to the Plenary, Mr. Osei Owusu pointed out that the Committee assessed the competence of the nominated Sector Ministers, Regional Ministers as well as the Deputy Regional Ministers on their respective portfolios.
He further explained that the Committee was satisfied with the responses of the elevated ministers and that, it will be of much importance if the House unanimously approve the vetted ministers.
The elevated ministers, approved by the House were Minister-Designate for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Cynthia Morrison, Minister-Designate for Brong Ahafo, Mr. Evans Bobie Opoku and Minister-Designate for Upper East Region, Ms. Paulina Tangoba Abayage.
The House again, unanimously approved the Deputy Minister-Designate for Eastern Region, Mr. Samuel Nuertey Ayertey and Deputy Minister-Designate for Brong Ahahfo Region, Mr. Martin Oti Gyarko.
The President’s nomination
On Monday, September 24, 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo communicated to Parliament, the nomination of two Sector Ministers of State, two Regional Ministers and two Deputy-Regional Ministers for appointment in accordance with Articles 256 and 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
The nominations were consequently referred to the Appointments Committee by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Michael Oquaye for Consideration and report pursuant to Order 172 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Consideration of the referral
Pursuant to Order 172(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Committee in the first instance caused to be published in the newspapers of national circulation, the names of the nominees and notice of the Committee’s Public Hearing for the attention of the general public on any of the nominees.
The Committee subsequently obtained Confidential Reports on the nominees from the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) as part of its background checks. Tax Status Reports were also obtained from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
A Public Hearing was thereafter held to consider the nominations. On commencement of proceedings, the nominees subscribed to the Oath of Witness and subsequently answered questions relating to their Curriculum Vitae (CV), matters relating to their eligibility, issues pertaining to the offices to which they have been nominated and other issues of national concern.
The Committee considered the nominations of the president for Ministerial Appointments in line with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament and recommended the newly elevated ministers to the House for approval.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
