Minority boycotts vetting of Herbert Krapah

The Minority in Parliament has boycotted the vetting of Herbert Krapah as the Minister of State at the Energy Ministry.

President Akufo Addo in a letter indicated that given the exceptionally heavy workload now attendant at the Energy Ministry, it has become necessary to nominate a Minister of State at the Ministry, in the person of Herbert Krapah, who is currently a deputy minister at the same Ministry.

However, at the Appointments Committee sitting to consider Herbert Krapah’s nomination, the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah highlighted some reasons for the caucus’ boycott of the process.

He explained that the nomination was not published in a national newspaper, denying the public the opportunity to submit memoranda or make representations to the Appointments Committee.

The Deputy Minority Leader also questioned the need for a Minister of State at the Energy Ministry when a substantive Minister is already in place.

The Minority has vowed not to participate in the vetting process, which they believe is designed to exclude public participation and perpetuate the bloated size of the government.

“The Minority Council has taken note of attempts by the majority side to short-circuit and circumvent the due process required in the venture of the President’s nominee for the position of Minister of State and the Ministry of Energy.

“Long-standing parliamentary practice requires that persons nominated for appointment by the President shall be published in a newspaper of national circulation to inform and request memoranda or representation from the public.”

“This ordinarily means that the public ought to be given reasonable notice and adequate time to submit memoranda or make representations to the appointment committee. Fortunately, as we speak this morning, this has not happened. These requests have totally been breached.”

“The minority wishes to serve notice that it will not be part of any hasty process deliberately designed by the majority to deny the people of Ghana participation in the work of the appointment committee and Ghana’s democracy.

“Consistent with the minority’s earlier position, the caucus would not participate in the vetting of any ministerial nominee that adds to the already bloated size of this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.”

Source: citinewsroom