Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper has severely censured members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament for what he considers as a dereliction of their core duties.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr, contributing on Peace FM's flagship programme, “Kokrokoo”, condemned the Appointments Committee for approving Ministers like the dismissed Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah.
The Deputy Communications Minister, who until recently was nursing an ambition to amass huge wealth before exiting politics, saw her dream crushed when President John Mahama issued a statement relieving her of her post.
She was caught on tape saying Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, prior to the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential election petition, conferred with the Justices which somehow resulted in the validation of the presidency of John Mahama.
Mr. Pratt, commenting on the issue, lambasted the Appointments Committee for lack of due diligence before and during the vetting of the former Deputy Communications Minister, and other appointees of her ilk.
According to him, the Appointments Committee members, whether from the minority or majority side, all have their own agenda to the detriment of their constituents. He disclosed that he once spoke with some Committee members on the Minority’s side, and what they said was that “If the President has appointed incompetent people; it’s his own cup of tea. We will approve their vetting so that they can bring dishonor to his administration."
He added that those in government also go to every length to approve the president’s nominee because "they don’t want to have any problems with the Head of State. That is why we are getting this caliber of people as Ministers.”
"Should that be the attitude? Is that how people on the Appointments Committee should behave?” He queried.
“It is time for a major shake-up in government. People must be sacked; he [President John Mahama] needs to crack the whip to send a signal…For the past one week, Vikileaks everywhere and you are not worried that there is this major diversion from government programmes?...The Head of State must wake up and crack the whip what is this," he exclaimed.
