Otiko saga: Minority playing mischief – MP

The Minority in parliament is being mischievous with its position on the approval of Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister-designate Otiko Afisah Djaba, Matthew Nyindam, Member of Parliament for Kpandai and Majority Chief Whip, has said.

All the Minority legislators on the Appointments Committee have voted against Ms Djaba’s approval citing her inability to undertake her national service as well as for her posture during her vetting for their stance.

Debating Ms Djaba’s approval on Friday, February 3, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said: “She does not have our support and she will not have our support until she behaves in a manner befitting a minister.”

However speaking to the press after the debate on the floor of parliament, Mr Nyindam said: “Otiko is [no] stranger in Ghana. She has been a parliamentary candidate before for several years, and unfortunately, she did not win to be a Member of Parliament.

“We quoted relevant aspects of the constitution; for you to be nominated as a minister you have to satisfy certain criteria and she has satisfied almost everything. That is why I am saying that they (the Minority) are just trying to be mischievous. She was honest that ‘Yes I did not do national service.’ If it were somebody, that person could lie on oath, but she didn’t lie. I don’t see we stepping her down, I don’t see Otiko stepping down, and we will definitely approve of her.

“Laws are made to be tested and so if somebody feels strongly that because she did not do her national service she is not qualified the person should go to court and test the law.”