Members of the Minority on the Parliamentary Appointments Committee boycotted vetting of some appointees by the President Wednesday, April 5, 2017.
The members argued that they were compelled to boycott the vetting because of the decision by the majority in the House to “surprise” them by holding the vetting despite an agreement to go on recess.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, speaking to Citi FM said the majority was rushing the vetting process and that wasn’t helping the minority to do due diligence to the process.
“Our leader, the Minority leader [Haruna Iddrisu] expressed concern that what has been agreed at the Business Committee meeting and at the Appointments Committee meeting was that, we take a break and we will return in May to continue with the vetting of the remaining Deputy Minister nominees.
“What has happened is that, the Majority has sought to take us by surprise. Remember that we had expressed concern about the way we were being treated . . . We were not being supported to carry out diligent work. CVs will come a night to the day and some of them will come on the day. Everything is being rushed,” he stated.
Giving further explanations into the reasons that led to the minority’s boycott, NDC Member of Parliament for Bongo, Edward Bawa held that the boycott was in the right direction.
According to him, the minority were “mentally” exhausted to scrutinize the documents regarding the vetting process.
He corroborated the North Tongu MP; Mr. Ablakwa’s submissions that both parties had earlier agreed to take a break and return in May to continue the process.
To him, the break is prudent to allow members on the Committee to regain strength and do a better work.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Mr. Bawa noted that “unless we just want to let people pass through the motion, that’s another thing. But if you want to do a good job, the guys are mentally tired. They’re mentally tired to even scrutinize documents.”
Also touching on the minority’s boycott, the General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Atik Mohammed also advised the majority on the Committee to heed the concerns of the minority.
He stated that Ghanaians want to assess the 100 days (which ends tomorrow, Friday, April 7) of the Nana Addo administration and so if the minority are seeking a break to work diligently and ensure the vetting process goes on well, then “you ought to listen to them. You should not be very dismissive . . . If they have some concerns, for me; I’d want them to get this vetting thing over and done with…“Let’s get the government in place. Then, we can begin to see how they’re going to deliver on the many promises they gave to Ghanaians.”
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