The Minority members on the Appointment Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, February 23, took a sit and watch approach on the vetting of the Public Enterprise nominee, Joseph Cudjoe, citing illegality as their case.
According to the Minority, the Ministry is not only new and duplication of state enterprises, but also lack the Presidential or the Executive Instrument clearly stating its portfolio, among other clarification of its objects.
In the view of the Minority, the President ought to have issued an Executive Instrument to create the Ministry before the nominee is consider for vetting.
Leader of the Minority, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu raised the issue when the nominee took his turn to be vetted.
According to Haruna, it is only when the Ministry is created and the objective of the Ministry or its focus mission that the members know how to scrutinize the nominee on those sectors.
He stressed that, there is the need for further and better particulars from the President, saying, “now on what issues are we going to question his competence on, public enterprise of what sector, it is entities government have shares or entities solely owned by the state or what.? And again, “we need to know if the nominee is a Minister of state in charge of public enterprise or a Minister without a portfolio?”
Hon Haruna who is also MP for Tamale South added that, “even if it takes midnight with correspondence from the presidency we will be here to work. As we proceed there is no Ministry for Public Enterprises and our hands are tied because we should be assessing him based on the role he is going to play.”
Mr. Iddrisu threatened to boycott the vetting if it proceeded without consultations with the presidency
But Chairman of the committee, Hon. Joe Osei Wusu implored the committee to proceed with the vetting while he gets clarity from the President.
Upon deliberation and suggestions from other members of the committee including Patrick Boamoah and Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Chairman of the committee agreed to a minibreak to consult and resolve the issue before the vetting resumes.
Mr. Cudjoe who is the incumbent MP for Efia in the Western region was on his seat when the controversy started.
He is also an immediate former Deputy Minister of Energy under Akufo Addo first term.
Source : expressnewsghana.com
