- "I do not think there is much to worry about the numbers and composition of the appointment committee because the mandate of the committee itself is limited to recommendations and so they cannot approve or reject a nominee of the president."
Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the MP for Assin South, has said that equal representation of New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs on the appointments committee of Parliament will not affect the approval of ministers-designate.
Speaking in an interview with Benjamin Offei-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show, Fordjour said the role of the committee is limited to recommendation and may not affect the final decision of the House.
“Now there are arguments that have been raised to the effect that chairperson of the appointments committee does not have original votes and has casting votes, and some fears and anxieties expressed that seemingly goes to give some control to our colleagues from the NDC with the assumption that they will have 13 straight votes against 12 votes,” Fordjour said.
However, he said: “I do not think there is much to worry about the numbers and composition of the appointments committee because the mandate of the committee itself is limited to recommendations and so they cannot approve or reject a nominee of the president.”
Some experts, including the pollster Ben Ephson, have suggested that some ministers-designate, including Ken Ofori-Atta (Finance), will not have an easy time when they appear before the vetting committee.
Fordjour emphasised that the approval of the presidents nominees is the responsibility of the entire legislature and not the committee.
Composition of committee
First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu is chairing the appointments committee, and the MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin, is its vice-chair.
Other members from the NPP, majority side in Parliament include John Ntim Fordjour, Frank Annoh Dompreh (MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri), Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Henry Quartey and the Ablekuma West MP, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
The NDC is duly represented, with the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, as a ranking member. Among the other NDC members of the committee are Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (Asawase), Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye (Odododiodoo) and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu).
Fred Dzakpata
* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio #TVOL
