[ 2017-02-03 ]

Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister-designate of Gender, Children and Social Protection

Otiko's approval put on ice; 5 others approved
The approval of Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba,
Minister-designate of Gender, Children and Social
Protection, has been put on ice by Parliament
until Tuesday, 7 January when the house will vote
on her approval.

On Friday, 3 February, the Minority in Parliament
pushed for the vote to be cast immediately but the
Majority insisted the vote be deferred to Tuesday.
Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye ruled in
favour of the Majority.

Meanwhile, other Ministers-designate including
Samuel Atta Akyea – Works and Housing, Joe
Ghartey – Railways Development, Ursula
Owusu-Ekuful – Communication, Dan Botwe –
Region Reorganisation, Ignatius Baffour Awuah –
Roads and Highways, John Peter Amewu – Lands and
Natural Resources, Anthony Akoto-Osei –
Monitoring and Evaluation, were all approved by
the house.

Debating Ms Djaba’s approval, Minority Leader
Haruna Iddrisu said “She does not have our
support and she will not have our support until
she behaves in a manner befitting a minister.”

All the Minority legislators on the Appointments
Committee voted against her approval citing her
inability to undertake her national service as
well as her posture during her vetting as
reasons.

However, the Committee as a whole recommended Ms
Djaba and other nominees for approval by majority
decision despite Ms Djaba’s refusal to apologise
for describing former President John Mahama as
“evil, wicked” and “an embarrassment” to
people of the regions up north.

Mr Iddrisu maintained that Ms Djaba’s failure to
participate in a one-year service to the nation
after her undergraduate studies at the University
for Development Studies disqualified her from
public service.

Mr Iddrisu said he was “referring to Act 426
section 7 of the Constitution”, adding: “It is
also a national obligation. She, in her answers,
was forthright and was candid with the committee
that ‘I have not done national service’.
Therefore, can she work in the public service of
Ghana and hold the high office of a minister of
state?”

Act 426 section 7 of the Constitutions deals with
matters concerning persons liable to national
service and instructs against employment contrary
to the provisions of the Act.

It states:

“(1) A person who has not commenced and
completed his period of national service shall
not:

(a) obtain employment outside the Scheme; or
(b) be employed by any other person outside the
Scheme; or
(c) be engaged in any employment outside the
Scheme, whether self-employed or otherwise,
without the prior permission, in writing, of the
Board.

(2) It shall be the duty of every employer to
ascertain from every employee, upon his
appointment, whether or not he is liable to
national service and if he is, the employer shall
notify the fact to the Board forthwith.”

However, Suhum MP Frederick Opare-Ansah pointed
out that the requirement of ministers is similar
to that of parliamentarians and if
parliamentarians were not requested to present a
national service certificate before being cleared
to contest as MPs, it would be needless to request
for a national service certificate from Ms Djaba.

Source - classfmonline.com

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