A member of the Appointment Committee of Parliament has slighted appointees of the then National Democratic Congress government, claiming if then Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, then Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwabena Mintah Akando, and a former Minister of State at the Presidency, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, were approved, how much more New Patriotic Party (NPP) ministers-designate.
Mr. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover says the aforementioned former appointees performed abysmally during their vetting, yet the committee approved them for them to serve the nation under the NDC government.
Parliament after vetting thirteen (13) ministerial nominees appointed by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday approved eight (8) of them, leaving out the Senior Minister designate, Yaw Osafo Maafo, Energy Minister designate, Boakye Agyarko, Health Minister designate, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Minister designate for Agriculture, Owusu Akoto Afriyie, and Education Minister designate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Speaking in an interview on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Friday, Mr. Titus-Glover explained that Mr. Osafo Maafo told the Appointments Committee during the vetting that he had failed to declare his assets for two terms as an MP and that is why leadership have decided to hold on to his approval.
He added that leadership is holding on to that of the Energy Minister designate, Boakye Agyarko, due to some allegations he made during the vetting that the former government awarded a contract which he [Boakye Agyarko] could not substantiate.
The Tema East MP said these are the issues that are holding up the two appointees but was optimistic that the Committee will approve them by next week during sitting.
Titus-Glover said the Health Minister designate, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Minister designate for Agriculture, Owusu Akoto Afriyie, and Education Minister designate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, have no issues “so we shall approve them by next week. There is no problem with the others”.
The MP threatened that “if they do not approve them, we shall bring them to the floor to vote on them because even Okudzeto Ablakwa was even approved. Kwabena Mintah Akando was even approved. Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah was approved, how much more these people”.
Asked to explain his comparison, Mr. Titus-Glover said the former appointees could not justify why they should be approved during their vetting, yet the Committee approved them.
“They could not even talk during the vetting”, he claimed.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com