[ 2017-01-25 ]

Yaw Osafo Marfo and Boakye Agyarko

Appointments C'ttee 'approves' 8 nominees; freezes Maafo, Agyarko approval
The Appointment Committee of Parliament is
expected to recommend the approval of eight out of
10 minister-designates it vetted, myjoyonline.com
has learnt.

The approval of Senior minister-designate Osafo
Maafo and Energy minister-designate Boakye Agarko
has been frozen for the time being.

The eight set to go through are Alan Kyerematen
for Trade Ministry, the Finance minister-designate
Ken Ofori-Atta and and the Defence
Minister-designate, Mr Dominic Nitiwul.

The rest are National Security Minister-designate,
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah; Attorney-General and
Justice Minister-designate, Ms Gloria Akuffo, and
the Minister designate for the Interior, Mr
Ambrose Dery.

Foreign Affairs, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway
and the Minister designate for Local Government &
Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama are also
expected to make the 8-name list to get the nod
for approval by Parliament.

The two left out have some pending issues to
resolve with the committee before their
nominations can be submitted for approval.

The Committee was not convinced by Osafo Maafo's
response to a controversy surrounding ethnocentric
comments he allegedly made.

The former Finance Minister was alleged to have
said in 2015 that Ghanaians who do not hail from
five resource-rich regions should not be in
sensitive positions to control resources.

An audio recording of his alleged comments during
a party function went viral.
At his vetting last Friday, Yaw Osafo Maafo
insisted his comments were doctored and rejected
suggestions that he should render an apology.

'Mr. Chairman I cannot apologise for what I have
not said' he charged.

Joy News has learnt, the Appointments Committee
wants to full tape to be played to satisfy itself
whether the comments were ethnocentric.

The Energy minister-designate Boakye Agyarko also
run into controversy with the Committee with the
claim that the World Bank put pressure on the
ex-president to take a decision on a gasification
policy, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka revealed to
Joy FM's Super Morning SHow Tuesday.

"For the nominee to say the World Bank was
breathing down the neck of former President
Mahama, it was very much uncalled for", the
Asawase MP Muntaka said.

Muntaka said the comment draws out the Minority
MPs to demand evidence. 'Then you put yourself in
the den", he said adding the nominee tried to do
politics during the vetting.

"Knowing the rules we [can] insist on evidence.
Can I have the letter that they [World Bank]
wrote? Now you would be found wanting because you
can't find the audio, you can't find any document
to prove and make your case stronger." he said.

Muntaka said MPs are free to do politics but for a
nominee to do this only sets up a confrontation.
"Do youself the favour not to go into the
politicking"
It is not clear yet when the Committee will
conclude matters involving the two nominees. 

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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