The Member of Parliament for Mpohor Constituency, Mr John Kobina Abbam Sanie has alleged that some members of the Appointments Committee are using the vetting of minister designates to settle personal scores instead of probing them according to their respective ministries.
According to him, some of the questions thrown at the appointees seem to be attacking them personally instead of their work.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Morning show, Ghana Nie, hosted by Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr Sanie said, “My observation is that, some of the questions from some of the members to the appointees look like fishing expedition, or they are using this forum to settle personal score or political score.”
He said,”What I know is that the appointee is vetted based on the work he or she is going to do, but when you see the posturing and some of the questions, the attack and the follow up questions look personal.”
Mr Sanie added that, “Some of the questions go overboard. If it is within the context of what the person is representing, I don’t have a problem but when you observe, some of the questions are worrying.”
Meanwhile, he said because most of them, including Ursula Owusu, Ambrose Dery, Kwesi Amoako Attah, were minsters in the first term, they are familiar with the things in their respective Ministries and therefore were on top of the questions when they appeared.
“For those who have been offered new portfolio, they also go and they do well. So I think so far, so good.”
For those who are saying some of the responses from the nominees did not sit well, he said it was because of the way some questions were asked that pushed them to react in a way that also went overboard.
Mr Sanie commended the First Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joe wise), for demonstrating leadership skills, saying that he controls the house immediately he notices there is more heat.
Reacting to the above allegation, Mr T.T Caternor said no one was using the vetting to settle personal scores, saying that there is nothing personal about the questions.
He said the platform is rather giving the public, especially the media the opportunity to ask questions which were not answered by the appointees when they were in office for the first term.
He observed that when some of the people become ministers, they also become arrogant, saying that even sometimes, they extend their arrogance to the media when they ask them questions.
He also said the Minister of Health Designate, Kwaku Agyeman Manu’s vetting was disheartening, especially for not knowing who was running covid-19 tests at the airport.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori