Parliament gives approval to Ministerial nominations

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - Parliament on Friday approved the nomination of 11 Ministers of State, including Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Nominee for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General but called on her to apologise to the Judiciary for describing Ghanaian courts as "kangaroo courts".

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, The Minority Leader, who led the call said although the Nominee, during her vetting had explained that certain processes that took place in the courts had made her ashamed hence her impression of the courts as kangaroo courts, she conceded that that statement must not be taken out of context and sounded conciliatory. The Minority Leader, however, said that the statement was frightening and because of the position she was going to occupy she needed to apologise.

Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, also supported the call for an apology, saying the Nominee had regretted and would be advised to apologise.

Nominees approved were: Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister-Designate of Education; Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister-Designate of The Interior; Mr Joseph Yieleh-Chireh, Minister-Designate of Local Government and Rural Development; Ms Akua Dansua, Minister-Designate of Women and Children's Affairs and Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister-Designate of Roads and Highways. Others were: Mr Collins Dauda, Minister-Designate of Forestry and Natural Resources; Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister-Designate of Energy; Mr Mike Hammah, Minister-Designate of Transport; Dr Kwabena Dufuor, Minister-Designate of Finance and Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister-Designate of Tourism. Meanwhile, Mr Bagbin has announced to the House that President John Evans Atta Mills was scheduled to deliver the State of the Nation Address to Parliament next Thursday.