The Appointments Committee has debunked claims which suggests that they have rejected three of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.
Responding to the issue in Parliament, the Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, rejected the claim noting that, the committee’s duty is only to vet nominees and make recommendations to the plenary.
His comment comes on the back of widespread speculations that the three nominees: the Minister of Information-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-designate for Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson have been rejected by the minority side of the Committee.
Mr Osei-Owusu noted that, it is not the duty of the Committee or any of its members to make pronouncement on the acceptance or rejection of a nominee.
“We should not take out of here matters, which have not been decided by the Committee and discussed as if they are the committee’s decision. This committee has no power to reject anybody. Our duty is to make recommendations to the House. The House may refuse or reject our recommendations. There is nothing going on here which is final. If we understand that, that will influence our discussion.”
Joseph Osei-Owusu
Mr. Osei-Owusu also admonished members of the Committee to desist from making public pronouncements on the nomination of persons who appear before it.
“So, I encourage you to stay away from public pronouncements on things that undermine the integrity of the Committee.”
Joseph Osei-Owusu
Also speaking on the issue, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, noted that assessment on the President’s nominees appearing before the Appointment’s Committee are not done on a partisan basis.
“The Appointments Committee is not the Minority Caucus nor is it just the Majority Caucus. It is just us working together to assess the ministers.”
Haruna Iddrisu
He also indicated that members of the Minority Caucus who are Committee members have not rejected the nomination of any of the nominees as was previously reported.
“I don’t think that people should conclude that there is some wrongdoing [on some of the nominees]…concluded by the Appointments Committee or an untoward issue.”
Haruna Iddrisu
Mr. Iddrisu cited some of the nominees captured in reports saying there were some concerns with their vetting.
He added that the Chairman of the committee, Joe Osei Owusu, will forward the specific concerns that have been raised and when that is communicated they will look at them.
Explaining why some nominees will have to return to the committee, he averred that it was due to outstanding concerns they had with them.
For Mrs. Hawa Koomson, for example, Mr. Iddrisu noted that the investigation into the shooting incident during the voter registration exercise in Kasoa on 20th July 2020 was still pending.
On Mr. Agyeman-Manu, the Minority Leader said the committee was still seeking clarity on the procurement process for COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport.
He further refuted suggestions that the committee was taking decisions based on the perceived arrogance of some nominees.
“Let it not be said anywhere that the Appointments Committee particularly led by the Minority are assessing people based on whether they are arrogant or not. We are simply in respect of some persons demanding better particulars.”
Haruna Iddrisu
