Vetting of nominee ministers begins

The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday began vetting ministerial nominees to fill the vacuum, which has existed in the ministries since the mandate of the NDC government was terminated on midnight of January 6.

The first batch of six who will appearing today are Mr J.H. Mensah, Minister of State and Leader of Government Business; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor for Defence; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Finance; Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Foreign Affairs; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice; and Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Local Government and Rural Development. The remaining are to appear from Saturday.

The reports of the Appointments Committee on the first batch of Ministers will be laid before the House on Tuesday, January 30, whilst that of the second batch will be laid on Wednesday, January 31 and expected to be adopted by the House on Wednesday January.

Presenting the report of the Business Committee which confirmed the date for the vetting, Mr Mensah, Majority Leader said yesterday that members of the committee have agreed to shelve a planned induction seminar for all members of parliament at GIMPA to give way for the screening.

He said though the seminar is relevant to parliamentary business because it will introduce new members to the procedures and refresh the minds of old members, it is imperative to give the appointment of ministers a priority. Mr. Mensah appealed to the committee to carry out the exercise with dispatch.

Earlier, the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey read a message from the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor urging the House to hasten work on the screening of ministerial nominees to enable the business of government to get underway.

The vetting, is being held in the Speaker's Conference Room.