[ 2021-03-02 ]

We have no power to reject nominees – Appointments Committee Chair
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and
Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph
Osei Owusu has rebuked members of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) over claims that they
had rejected the approval of some ministerial
nominees.

Mr. Osei Owusu insisted that no member or group on
the committee has the power to reject any
nominee.

According to him, the Committee can only make
recommendations for a decision to be taken by
Parliament.

There are claims that the NDC MPs on the Committee
had unanimously rejected the approval of some
ministers-designate.

The said nominees included Kojo Oppong Nkrumah,
the Minister-designate for Information; Hawa
Koomson, Minister-designate for Fisheries and
Aquaculture and Owusu Afriyie Akoto,
Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.

But according to the Bekwai legislator, the
committee has no such powers.

He thus urged members on the committee to abide by
the rules of the house.

“We are supposed to take a decision as a
committee which is intended for the House
[Parliament]. Sometimes, people say I am too
strict, but truly that is my training and these
are the rules we go by. So please let us work as a
team and as a committee. We can always agree to
disagree that’s why it is a democracy, but we
should not take out of here matters which have not
been decided by the committee and discuss as if it
is a committee decision.”

“This committee has no power to reject anybody
and let’s make it clear. Our duty is to make
recommendations to the house which the house may
accept or refuse. If we understand that, it will
influence our decisions.”

He made these comments during the vetting on
Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Source - Citinewsroom

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