Parliament suspended a debate on a report of the Appointments Committee on new Ministers appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, during its session.
This came after a request by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, to the Speaker to suspend proceedings for an hour on Thursday, March, 23, for a joint caucus meeting.
Granting the request, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said, “what I have gotten is that the application is well grounded. And as master of the standing orders, I’m convinced to grant it. And so I will suspend sitting for one hour. And it means that at 3:30 pm we should be back here”.
However, when Parliament resumed, The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin directed that the house debates the report of the Appointments Committee on the new Ministers appointed by President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, while the fates of the new appointees are decided on Friday, March 24.
Although members on both sides of the house were not in support of the directive, the Speaker stood by his position.
“We agree to disagree, at the end of the day, my decision is that we will debate [today, Thursday] and take the decision tomorrow Friday]. I have listened to your submissions, will permit three from each side of the caucus, ten minutes per person and we will take the next step. My proposal is that we take the decision tomorrow, but we will do the debate today.”
Alban Bagbin
Prior to the vetting of the newly nominated ministers on Monday, February 20, 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), directed the Minority group not to approve them, describing their appointments as an insensitive move that would increase government’s expenditure in the midst of an economic mess.
The nominated ministers include the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond as the Minister for Trade and Industry with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy. The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong was also appointed as the Minister for Food and Agriculture. Stephen Asamoah Boateng was appointed as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs among others.
Minority Threatens To Vote Against Akufo-Addo’s New Ministers
However, The Minority in Parliament says it will on Friday, March 24, vote against the new Ministers and deputies appointed by President Akufo-Addo.
The group says the house must unanimously reject the nominees, despite the affinity to some of the nominees who are their colleague legislators to help the government cut down on its expenditure, amid the current economic crisis.
Debating the report of the Appointments Committee on the Ministerial nominees, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, outlined some basis for the group’s position.
“We stand with the people of Ghana, and we are urging our colleagues from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand for Ghana and not to stand for their colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the nominees are our colleagues, but the principle is that it’s not about them, it’s about the Republic of Ghana. They may be our colleagues and friends and relatives, but it’s not about them. I call on you to look them in their faces and vote against them for the republic of Ghana. For the future of our country.”
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, however, appealed to the house to consider the approval of the nominees.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin reiterated that the house will decide on the fate of the nominees today, with the NDC caucus still standing by their judgement not to accept the ministerial nominations.
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