The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the Majority Caucus in Parliament of undermining established parliamentary procedures in the vetting of the President’s nominee for the position of Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapah.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in a press statement, pointed out that the Majority’s actions are a blatant attempt to bypass due process and deprive the public of their right to participate in the vetting process.
“The Minority Caucus has taken note of indecent attempts by the Majority side to short-circuit and circumvent the due process required in the vetting of the President’s nominee for the position of Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy”.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Mp Ellembelle Constituency and Deputy Minority Leader
According to Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency the long-standing parliamentary practice requires that nominations by the President be published in a national newspaper.
This publication he noted is intended to inform the public and solicit memoranda or representations regarding the nominee, adding that such a procedure ensures transparency and gives the public a reasonable notice period to submit their inputs to the Appointments Committee.
However, the Deputy Minority Leader asserted that these procedural requirements have been flagrantly ignored in the case of the current nominee for the Ministry of Energy.
He expressed bewilderment at the Majority’s rush, especially since the nominee is already serving as a Deputy Minister of Energy and there is a current Minister of Energy in place.
“Last week, it took a strong pushback from the Minority to call off the vetting of the same nominee just a day after the referral by the Speaker to the Appointments Committee to ensure that the appointment was advertised”.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Mp Ellembelle Constituency and Deputy Minority Leader
The National Democratic Congress Deputy Leader in Parliament reaffirmed the Caucus’ resolve not to participate in what it perceives as a hasty process designed by the Majority to exclude the Ghanaian public from the vetting process.
He strongly posited that the apparent exclusion of the Ghanaian public from the vetting process undermines the democratic principles that should guide the work of the Appointments Committee.
President Akufo-Addo’s ‘Bloated Government’
Moreover, the Deputy Minority Leader, Honorable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized the Caucus position against any additional ministerial appointments that would further expand what it describes as the already bloated administration of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He highlighted the inappropriateness of adding new ministerial positions at a time when Ghana is grappling with severe economic challenges, including an economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default, corruption, state capture, and wasteful expenditures.
In a fervent call to action, the Deputy Minority Leader called on President Akufo-Addo to reduce the size of his government as a signal of his responsiveness to the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians.
He criticized the government’s approach, contrasting the call for the public to tighten their belts with what they see as the government’s disregard for austerity.
In conclusion, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency reiterated that the Minority Caucus in Parliament cannot, in good conscience, participate in the vetting of yet another ministerial nominee, especially under the current dire circumstances facing the country.
His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed Herbert Krapa as Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy.
Currently serving as Deputy Energy Minister and Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s Board, Krapa’s nomination was submitted to Parliament for approval and announced by Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Alban Bagbin.
In a formal letter to Parliament, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the necessity of the appointment, citing the intensified workload at the Energy Ministry.
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