Minority boycotts vetting of Akufo-Addo ministers; wants House to rise

The minority members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament Wednesday boycotted the vetting of some deputy ministers appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in order to push for the Parliament House to rise for recess.

Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi told 3FM parliamentary correspondent Mercydalyne Lokko Tuesday that notwithstanding an agreement by the House to go on recess Wednesday, the majority side of the House is making attempts to delay it to Friday.

According to him, the consensus to go on recess on Wednesday was informed by the fact that there is no business available for the House to conduct but the majority side wants the deputy ministers appointed by the President to be vetted before they rise by Friday.

Apparently not happy with the tactics by the majority side of the House, the minority MPs on the Appointments Committee resolved Wednesday not to be part of the vetting of Andy Appiah-Kubi who is the deputy minister designate for Railways Development. “No member of the minority on the Appointments Committee is there [at the vetting].

Most of their members on the Appointment Committee are in the main chamber. It’s just the majority side which conducting the vetting,” Mercydarlyne reported. About five deputy ministers-designate are expected to be vetted Wednesday by the Committee but the minority side on the Committee have rather gone to the main chamber of the House where some MPs are delivering statements on the floor, our correspondent reported.

The House is expected to also approve deputy ministers-designate who have so far been vetted and approved by the Committee, our correspondent added.