Parliament Defers Approval Of Two Nominees

Reports reaching the Point indicate that the Appointment Committee of Parliament has declined to give approval to two presidential nominees. The two persons whose appointments have been deferred are Hon. Adjei-Darko, Minister of State designate at the Office of the Presdient and Hon. Owusu Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister designate.

According to the reports, the Appointment Committee was not satisfied with the responses given to questions posed to the nominees.

With respect of Hon Adjei-Darko, the report has it that he could not give a satisfactory explanation as to why District Chief Executives(DCE) during the NDC regime have not been paid their exgratia awards. It would be recalled Hon Adjei Darko was once the minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

In a response, Hon Adjei Darko is reported to have said he instructed the various DCEs to write to him for their Ex-gratia which many members of the Appointment Committee thought was an afront to the much cherished rule of law that the country is trying to pursue.

Concerning the Ashanti regional Minister Designate Hon Asmoa Owusu-Ansah the reports state that the appointment committee still needs additional information on certain answers the nominee gave to the committee.

Hon Owusu Ansah?s special assistant is said to have organised people to burn down the NPP Constituency Youth organiser?s shop. During his vetting a member of the committee Hon Twumasi Appiah asked him whether he was aware that there was a murder case before a Kumasi court in which he is allegedly being implicated.

But the Chairman of the Committee Hon Freddie Blay asked the nominee not to answer since the case was in court. Already Parliament has rejected the President?s nomination for the position of Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister.