Our position has not changed – the Minority answered the Majority in the call to approve the appointed minister
The minority in Parliament said its decision not to approve the appointed ministers despite participating in the vetting has not changed.
Chief Minority Whip Kwame Agbodza told TV3 in an interview on Tuesday, February 21 that “Nothing has changed in terms of our decision.”
The comments came after Chief Majority Whip Frank Annoh-Drompreh appealed to opposition MPs to support the candidate and get it approved.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, February 21, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said that almost all the nominees are legislators who should be supported by their colleagues.
He explained that there has been a convention in the House of Representatives that when a person gets a privilege, all the members of the parliament rally behind that person to succeed.
“This is a major decision since he became the leader, this is the first time he will more or less make an important decision, so he has to compromise justice with mercy.
“It’s not the right expression to use in this context because I don’t understand the relevance of this, but I’m just saying that they should release it, support the nomination, let’s pass it.
“Especially, all these nominees, Honorable Bryan Acheampong, Honorable KT Hammond, Honorable OB Amoah, Honorable Stephen Amoah, they are all colleagues and in this house, we have this convention that if one of us is nominated for the privilege of od . our services rally around each other to get them approved especially in the case that there is no criminal committal of any crime, it will not hurt if they decide to support the decision, “Nsawam-Adoagyiri Member of Parliament said.
He added, “I know Dr. Ato Forosn very well, and I pray what I am going to say so that people do not misunderstand. Ato Forson has been one of the most patriotic members on the other side. I served on the Finance Committee before I had to give way to people, this person, probably because of his work in the Ministry of Finance, he can appreciate well that when it comes to revenue, when it comes to governance, I just want to tell my friends that for our country, we have no other country but this country.
“I’m not very experienced and very old in leadership, but I know that the more you beat your friends with your numbers, the bigger the gap between you. We fight and you always beat me, you always beat me so you push me to the wall and one day I will strike, but I will strike I don’t care because I also have to win. So it’s not just about numbers, of course, we can get numbers, but I see the future how we can work smoothly and harmoniously .
The minority in Parliament said they would not subscribe to a consensus vote at the level of the Appointments Committee on appointed ministers.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has told lawmakers not to endorse President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s new ministerial candidate. Verification of nominations begins on Monday, February 20.
The NDC said it has long expressed concern over the size of the current government and expressed the view that it should be scaled back considering “the enormous economic mess the country has been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.”
Despite many appeals, the main opposition party said in a statement on Sunday February 19 signed by Secretary General Foifi Kwetey that President Akufo Addo has been “quite characteristic, remains firm and deaf.
“The leadership of the NDC, with this background, directed the Minority caucus in Parliament not to approve any of the new ministerial nominees and to further reduce the size of the government with the aim of reducing unnecessary channels due to the scarcity of public resources.
“At this time of haircuts, the most important thing the government can do is to “cut the government’s hair”. The directive to the minority in parliament, we strongly believe is in line with the genuine sentiments of most Ghanaians. Enough is enough.”
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, Monday February 20, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said “A few weeks ago, the President announced the names of the nominees for the appointment of Ministers. The vetting started this morning.
“We in the Minority want to make it clear that we remain committed to ensuring greater oversight and will not make any effort to protect the public purse. In line with this, we are participating in the vetting process so that at least we can examine the President’s decision on taking the candidate.
“However, the Minority will not subscribe to a consensus vote at the Appointments Committee level. This will ensure that the matter is brought to the full House for a vote that will be conducted in secret.
They demanded that the government take certain measures.
Here is a list of what the government is asking for…
1. The number of ministers has been reduced from 86 to 65
2. Merger of Ministries. For example,
i. Information and Communication
ii. Transport and Railways
iii. Commander and Tourism
iv. Sanitation and Local Government
3. Direct reduction in the number of political appointees in the Office of the President.
4. Immediate elimination of all amorphous creations and garbage pipes, job appointments for children since President Akufo Addo in 2017.
READ ALSO: ‘The determination of the government will not lead’ – Kwakye Ofosu
The work of undefined, amorphous creations should return to established entities in civil and public services that perform similar, if not identical, functions.
Some of these strange portfolios in the office of the president
namely:
1. Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs
2. Associate policy
3. Chief Executive of Public Sector Reform
4. Supervisor of the National Cathedral
5. Church Relations Manager
6. Diaspora Church Mobilization Officer
7. Policy Analyst & Coordinator
8. Focal Person, La Francophonie
9. Technical Director, La Francophonie
10. Coordinator, Special Development Initiative
Secretariat
11. Director of Special Projects
12. Operations & Program Manager
13. 5 Technical Communication Assistant
14. Technical Advisor, Zongo Development Authority
15. 2 Technical Advisor, Special Development
Initiative Secretariat
16. Technical Advisor, Political Affairs
17. President’s Staff, NABCO
18. Office Management Executive Assistant
19. Technical Director for the President’s Advisor
Media
20. Data Manager
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
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