Appointment Committee freezes approval of Agyarko, Marfo

Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo and Energy, Power and Petroleum Minister designate Boakye Agyarko

The Appointment Committee of Parliament has recommended for approval eight out of the 13 ministerial nominees vetted so far. However, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo, Energy Minister designate Boakye Agyarko and three others were not part of the list recommended for approval.

A copy of the first report of the appointment committee made available to Joy News names the appointees recommended for approval as follows; Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister Designate for National Security, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister Designate for Finance, Dominic Nitiwul, Minister Designate for Defence, Ambrose Dery Minister Designate for Interior, Ms Gloria Akufo, Minister Designate for Attorney General and Justice.

The others are Alan Kyeremanten, Minister Designate for Trade and Industry, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway Minister designate for Foreign Affairs and Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister Designate for Local Government and Rural Development. The report was however silent on why the approval of the five has been withheld by the committee. On Wednesday the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak hinted the Committee has withheld the approval of the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko because he ventured into politics in answering some of the questions posed to him and has been given time to substantiate some of the claims he made during the heated vetting. The vetting of the Energy Minister designate is believed to be the most exciting with Boakye Agyarko showing a depth of knowledge of the field he will occupy if approved. He however had a heated banter with the Minority Chief Whip over whether the World Bank mounted pressure on the ex-president over the implementation of a new gas project. It is not clear why Osafo Marfo has also not been recommended for approval.

He was reported to have said that only five regions in the country are endowed with Ghana's natural resources for which reason any president chosen must come from one of those regions to be able to manage the resources. When he appeared before the committee Osafo Marfo insisted the tape which went viral had been doctored for propaganda purposes.

Oman News’ parliamentary correspondent Nana Ampofo Ayeh who has in his possession a copy of the list speaking from Parliament said no reason had been assigned as to why the names of the 5 minister designate were not included in the list.

He indicated that the Appointment Committee was yet to submit the list of 8 ministers designate to the Speaker later in the day for deliberation on the floor of Parliament.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful/cregafful2016@gmail.com

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