The Parliament of Ghana has given its approval for the constitution of the Appointments Committee that would vet and recommend President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s‘ nominations for 23 Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial positions during his recent reshuffling.
The motion to approve the membership of the Appointments Committee was put forward by Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu Cnstituency, Honorable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markins, on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Honorable Alban Kingsfrod Sumana Bagbin.
The Effutu Member of Parliament, the Honorable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin speaking on the motion highlighted that the committee adhered to the formula established by the House on January 15, 2021, for the composition of committee memberships.
According to the Deputy Majority Leader, the agreed-upon formula used for the composition of the Appointments Committee ahead of the vetting of the ministerial nominations by President Akufo-Addo is at 138:137 per the newly adopted Standing Orders of the House.
Composition Of Parliament Appointments Committee
The Committee per its composition would be chaired by the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, Honorable Joseph Osei-Owusu with Effutu Member of Parliament and Deputy Majority Leader, Honorable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin as its Vice Chairman.
Other members of the Majority Caucus that were nominated to serve on the Appointemnts Committee include the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam Aduogyiri, Honorable Frank Annor-Dompreh, the Abuakwa South Member of Parliament, Honorable Samuel Atta Akyea, and Honorable Gifty Twum-Ampofo.
On the other hand, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency, Honorable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson would serve on the Committee as the Ranking Member, with the Deputy Minority Leader, Honorable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah as the Deputy Ranking Member.
Additionally, the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency, Honorable Kwame Governs Agboza and Honorable Elizabeth Ofousu-Adjare were nominated as the other members from the Minority Caucus to the Committee.
This diverse composition of the Committee brings together experienced legislators with a wealth of knowledge and expertise, that would ensure a comprehensive evaluation of President Akufo-Addo’s nominations.
The Appointments Committee will now proceed with the vetting process, meticulously scrutinizing each nominee to ensure their suitability for the proposed roles.
Some of the ministerial nominees that would appear before the Committee include Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Minister designated to the Ministry of Health, Honorable Ophelia Mensah Hayford, the Minster designated to the Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, and Ms Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister designated to the Ministry of Information.
Again, Honorable Darkoa Newman, the Minister designated to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honorable Martin Adje-Mensah Korsah, the Minister designated to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development shall both appear before the Committee for vetting.
Other Ministerial nominees include, Honorable Lydia Syram Alhassan, the Minister designated to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, and Honorable Andrew Egyapa Mercer, the Minister designated to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Some of Deputy Minister nominees that would also appear before the Committee include Honorable Sylvester Tetteh, the Deputy Minister of Information designate, Honorable Vincent Ekow Asafuah, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development designate and Honorable Charles Acheampong, the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitization designate.
The vetting and the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees marks a crucial step in the country’s parliamentary democratic process, particularly ahead of the 2024 general elections.
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