The role of the appointment exercise carried out by the president, as his constitutional right, highlights President John Mahama’s excellence in establishing the political administrative architecture for governance. Despite the National Democratic Congress experiencing changes in parliamentary positions, particularly at the front bench, there is a need for the party to fill these now-vacant positions.
Sammy Obeng, the Executive Director for Parliamentary Network Africa, expressed this on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor FM 92.3, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He emphasized the urgent need for the Parliament of Ghana to strengthen its research administrative portfolio, especially for members of parliament, to improve the quality of their work. He also noted that new entrants should be ready to learn and fulfill their parliamentary roles to help develop the country.
In another development, the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has raised concerns over the ongoing vetting process for ministerial nominees, describing it as unsatisfactory. ACEPA argues that the conduct of members from both sides of Parliament has hindered the process, preventing a thorough interrogation of nominees on critical national issues.
Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of ACEPA, called for a reassessment of the Appointments Committee’s approach to ensure the vetting process serves its intended purpose. According to Dr. Draman, there is a need to revisit the operational framework of the Appointments Committee to enhance its effectiveness. He added that the current approach does not allow for the rigorous examination of nominees on pressing matters affecting the country.
“I think this process has been very unsatisfactory. There is a need for some serious rethinking about how the Appointments Committee conducts its business. We see, first of all, Members of Parliament, particularly those from the Minority, missing a very important opportunity to exact accountability from nominees. They focus on trivial issues, issues that do not speak to the competence, integrity, and fit of the person for the ministry or department they are going to. On the side of the Majority members, I think they have turned this whole process into some kind of friendly match. It is their colleagues from the same party, but we still have to take this business very seriously.”
ACEPA’s remarks follow public criticism of the vetting process, with many observers urging Parliament to prioritize substance over partisan interests during these crucial deliberations.
Story by: Alexander Kukah
