The Executive Director of the Africa Parliamentary Network, Mr. Sammy Obeng has offered insights into the recent reshuffling of the majority of leadership in Parliament.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen Kofi Owusu on Ahotor FM, Mr. Obeng explained the rationale behind the delayed changes in the majority frontbench. He noted that the leadership of the majority initially decided to maintain the status quo after the inauguration of the 9th Parliament due to the anticipated ministerial appointments. According to him, the majority of leadership believed it prudent to wait until ministerial appointments were confirmed before making adjustments to their frontbench composition.
“Out of their five key leadership positions—Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and the two Deputy Whips—four of them have now received ministerial appointments. Naturally, this necessitates a change because it becomes challenging to simultaneously serve as a minister and as a Caucus leader in Parliament. While there’s no law explicitly prohibiting such dual roles, it is practically demanding and unfeasible in the long term,” Mr. Obeng explained.
He added that the reshuffle was an expected move, given the circumstances. It reflects the need to separate parliamentary duties from executive responsibilities to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in both roles.
Mr. Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of the Africa Parliamentary Network, has called for continuous improvement in the parliamentary vetting process in Ghana.
Mr. Obeng expressed optimism about the current vetting process while emphasizing that there is still room for enhancement. He acknowledged that Ghana’s vetting system has made significant strides over the years but compared it to advanced democracies like the United States, where vetting processes are more thorough and research-driven.
“Looking at the vetting process, it has improved and will only get better with time. However, there is always room for improvement,” he stated. “When you compare our vetting procedures to those in advanced countries like the United States, you notice a stark difference. At the moment, the U.S. is conducting vetting for their ministers, and the depth of the questions asked, coupled with the detailed research that goes into each question, is remarkable.”
Mr. Obeng further highlighted the professionalism displayed by Members of Parliament (MPs) during the vetting process. He lauded the level of rigour and critical thinking applied by the MPs, describing it as commendable.
“Our MPs have been utilizing a high level of rigour in questioning nominees, which is a positive sign. However, we can aim to emulate the standards seen in advanced democracies, where the process is even more detailed, ensuring accountability and transparency,” he added.
He concluded by encouraging continuous learning and adaptation to global best practices to enhance Ghana’s vetting system further, making it a benchmark for other nations.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
