Mr. Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa suggests the unavailability of female member on the Parliamentary Service Board is a bit worrying.
Speaking in an interview on an Accra based radio station, he intimated that the absence of a female on the board was one of the shortfalls the current board has as compared to the previous ones.
He also indicated that, his outfit has not yet analysed the happening to conclude;if there was truly some political interference with regards to the selection of the members as purported.
“The Parliamentary Service Board is a corporate government structure. In fact, it derives its powers from the Act of Parliament. The Act clearly states that, the board must be formed.
“According to the Act, a board must be formed having a fixed Member from Parliament,;that is, two known people and the remaining four of the members must be appointed by the Speaker.”
Sammy Obeng
His comment comes on the back of inferences made by some stakeholders that there was a measure of political interference in the decision made by the Speaker of Parliament yesterday about the composition of the Parliamentary Service Board.
Speaker is advised on appointment
He further explained that, the speaker mostly sets up a committee to advise him on who to appoint to become part of the committee and then comes out to appoint.
Moreover, he averred that the decision is not unusual, that is, to have old Members of Parliament on the board.
Mr. Obeng also reveals that, another difference with the board this time is that, it only has two people currently in parliament that is the current majority group leader and the minority group leader and old serving Members of Parliament.
Changes In Parliament, An Influence to the decision
Speaking on what may have influenced and persuaded the Speaker to appoint Mr. Aseidu Nketiah, he noted that the change in Parliament this year may have also influenced the committee’s decision;to have brought on board old members of parliament from both parties to ensure that there is balance on the board.
“Mr. Johnson Aseidu Nketiah is the General Secretary of the NDC. But it is important to note that, his appointment did not come on the ticket of being the General Secretary of the NDC.”
Sammy Obeng
However he indicated that Mr Aseidu Nketiah came “on the back of he being a former Member of Parliament.”
Additionally, he states that, he did not think the Parliamentary Service Board should align to partisanship. He further urged that, the focus should rather be on the competencies of the individuals appointed.
Speaker Appoints Aseidu Nketiah
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia was yesterday appointed by Speaker Alban Babgin as member of Parliamentary Service Board. He will be on the Board as former Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi West.
The MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu,;former Majority leader Abraham Osei Adu, the Clerk to Parliament and the Speaker; who doubles as Chairman constitute the six-member Service Board.
Mr. Bagbin informed the House of his decision to appoint the personalities who make up the Board at their sitting yesterday, March, 29, 2021.
