Vetting of nominee ministers begins
Date for vetting of presidential nominations
released
Minority not certain about role of
ministers-designate
Vetting of nominee ministers begins
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday began vetting ministerial nominees to fill the vacuum, which has existed in the ministries since the mandate of the NDC government was terminated on midnight of January 6.
The first batch of six who will appearing today are Mr J.H. Mensah, Minister of State and Leader of Government Business; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor for Defence; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Finance; Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Foreign Affairs; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice; and Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Local Government and Rural Development. The remaining are to appear from Saturday.
The reports of the Appointments Committee on the first batch of Ministers will be laid before the House on Tuesday, January 30, whilst that of the second batch will be laid on Wednesday, January 31 and expected to be adopted by the House on Wednesday January.
Presenting the report of the Business Committee which confirmed the date for the vetting, Mr Mensah, Majority Leader said yesterday that members of the committee have agreed to shelve a planned induction seminar for all members of parliament at GIMPA to give way for the screening.
He said though the seminar is relevant to parliamentary business because it will introduce new members to the procedures and refresh the minds of old members, it is imperative to give the appointment of ministers a priority. Mr. Mensah appealed to the committee to carry out the exercise with dispatch.
Earlier, the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey read a message from the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor urging the House to hasten work on the screening of ministerial nominees to enable the business of government to get underway.
The vetting, is being held in the Speaker's Conference Room.
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Date for vetting of presidential
nominations released
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
The second batch of the president's nominees for ministerial appointment will be vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday January 30, Wednesday January 31 and Friday February 2, a statement from parliament said.
The sitting will take place at the Speaker's conference room and will vet: Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs-designate, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education-designate, Dr Richard W. Anane: Minister of Health-designate, K.Adjei-Darko, Minister of Roads and Highways-designate and F.K. Owusu-Agyepong , Minister of Transport and Communication designate.
Others who will appear before the committee are Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment-designate, Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of Energy-designate, Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing-designate, Malam Ali Yussif Issah, Minister of Youth and Sports-designate, Madam Hawa Yakubu, Minister of Tourism-designate and Dr Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation-designate.
The rest are Ishmael Ashitey, Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries)-designate, Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State at the Ministry of Education (Primary Secondary and Girl Child)-designate, C.O. Nyanor, Minister of State at the Presidency (Private Sector Development)-designate and Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Presidency-designate (Media Relations).
The public is requested to submit in writing information in respect of a nominee to the Chairman of the appointments committee.
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Minority not certain about role of
ministers-designate
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, on Thursday nearly got himself in a snare of the minority when he volunteered a piece of information to the House that related to foreign relations.
The member had thought that he could help the house reschedule its special seminar slated for January 30 because the special guest for the occasion, a British Minister, would not be able to make it.
Mr Peter Hain, hitherto with the British Home Office and in charge of African Affairs, was moved to the Energy Ministry during a recent cabinet reshuffle in that country.
The Minority, who had made several unsuccessful bids to comment on its assumption that ministers-designate are already in post, seized the opportunity to launch the long awaited attack.
Mr John Tia, NDC-Talensi, enquired: "What are you? Mr Speaker, what should we call him"?
Several echoes and cat-calls greeted the enquiry and the Minority asked the minister-designate where he had that message.
Mr Owusu-Agyeman explained that he only volunteered the information to the house in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.
This did not go down well with the Minority and it had to take the eloquence and mastery of Mr J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader, to dislodge the matter.
He argued that the Minority were flouting the rules of the house since the topic on hand was the discussion of the business statement for next week.
Although, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, ruled that all had transpired was irrelevant, the minister-designate for Foreign Affairs was vindicated later when it was learnt that Mr Hain was not coming after all.
The Speaker communicated this to the house after the debate.
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