Otiko Djaba secures 152 votes to get parliamentary approval

A majority vote of 152 was enough to ensure the parliamentary approval of Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Minority Members however, abstained from the balloting process.

Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba is expected to be sworn into office by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the seat of government late Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

The House came under intense disagreement following the Minority’s stance on the approval of Ms. Otiko Afisah Djabah as a Minister of State.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu had told the House that his side will not support any illegality considering the fact that the nominee (Otiko Djaba) did not do her National Service, a key requirement under the laws of the land for persons desirous of holding public office.

He further told the House that the nominee has till date not shown any remorse having insulted then President of the land, John Dramani Mahama, during the 2016 electioneering campaign.

But those on the majority side argued that at the time the nominee completed the University for Development Studies (UDS), she was 47 years, and therefore, was not obliged under the law to do National Service.

They insisted on using their numerical advantage to approve the nomination of Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba as a Minister of State.

The Third Report of the Appointments Committee chaired by the 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu, had recommended to the House at the plenary to approve the nomination of Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection by majority decision after the Minority members on the committee rejected her approval.

After back and forth argument over the issue, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called for secret ballot over the nominee’s approval.

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye who presided over the sitting set the rule for the balloting quoting Order 172 (5) to buttress his stance.

5) of the Standing Orders of the House states that “Each Member shall be provided wi

Order 172 (th a sheet of paper on which appears the names of all candidates for approval or rejection. Against the name of each candidate shall be two columns, one for AYES indicating approval and the other for NOES indicating rejection.”

After two hours of going through the balloting process, Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba, secured majority votes to get the approval of the House with the Minority abstaining from the balloting process.