[ 2021-03-02 ]

Why Minority MPs rejected 3, deferred 5 of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees
The Minority MPs on the Appointments Committee
have so far rejected three of President
Akufo-Addo’s 30 ministerial nominees while five
others have been deferred to reappear for further
questioning.

Information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong
Nkrumah; Minister-designate for Fisheries and
Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson and
Minister-designate for Food Agriculture, Dr Owusu
Afriyie Akoto have been rejected for various
reasons.


Those deferred are Communication Minister nominee,
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful; Railway Minister nominee,
John Peter Amewu; Roads Minister nominee, Kwasi
Amoako-Attah; Attorney General and Minister of
Justice nominee, Godfred Dame and Health Minister
nominee, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.


Made up of a total of 26 members – 13 each from
the NDC and the NPP Caucus – the Committee begun
the constitutionally mandated vetting process on
February 10 and are expected to finish on March
9.



The NDC MPs led by Haruna Iddrisu, a Ranking
Member on the Committee, have outlined reasons
they took such a decision.

Reasons for the rejection

Mr Oppong Nkrumah who appeared before the
Committee on the February 18, was reportedly
rejected on three grounds.

The Minority MPs said they were not satisfied with
the answers he gave regarding his private
businesses.

According to the NDC MPs, the Ofoase Ayeribi MP
has an 82% share in a company called Oval Market
Finance. This finance company is believed to be
involved in some suspicious third-party lending.

Again, they say he has dealings with MX24 GH, a
content creation, digital agency and media
production house located in East Legon, which he
said he didn’t have anything to do with during
his vetting.

Overall, the NDC MPs accuse Mr Oppong Nkrumah of
being untruthful with his answers during his
vetting.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister-designate, Hawa
Koomson, who was vetted on the same day as was
turned down mainly for the gun-shooting incident
that occurred during the registration of voters in
her constituency.

During her vetting, the 55-year-old admitted to
firing warning shots in self-defence and
apologised to the Committee and Ghanaians in
general for her conduct.

Although MP for Asawaase, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka
questioned the genuineness of her apology owing to
the fact that she had failed to follow up on her
constituents who may have been injured or lost
their property in the incident, Mrs Koomson stated
that she was unaware of any such injuries or
losses.



Regarding the Minister-designate for Food and
Agriculture, Afriyie Akoto, he is accused of
unilaterally cancelling a horticulture contract
with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority on
January 11, 2021 without authority.

This cancellation according to the Minority Group
is unauthorised as he was only a caretaker
Minister.

Further, the cancellation, they say, will lead to
a $50 million judgment debt for the country.

Following the rejection of these candidates, their
nomination will be presented to Parliament for a
vote.

Meanwhile, the NDC MPs say their reasons for the
deferment of Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is for
overseeing the discriminatory closure of some
radio stations.

The nominee during her vetting two weeks ago said,
the NCA acted in accordance with the Electronic
Communication Law of 2008 in shutting down radio
stations.

Source - Joyfm

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