Hawa Koomson, Oppong Nkrumah And Afriyie Akoto Finally Approved By Vetting Committee

Parliament has approved all 13 ministerial nominees in the Appointment Committee’s report.

The House came to the conclusion after hours of sitting which dragged through Wednesday night to about 3:00 am Thursday.

The prolonged sitting was partly as a result of rigorous debate from both sides of the aisle over the clarity in what was meant by a ‘majority decision’ as captured in the report recommending the approval for three of the 13 ministers-designate.

These nominees are Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Food and Agriculture Minister-designate, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson who were previously rejected by the Minority MPs on the Appointments Committee.

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After unfavourable attempts to use a headcount, Speaker Alban Bagbin resorted to the use of a secret ballot to decide whether the nominees should be approved. 

After conclave with the House leadership, the Speaker was convinced that the expression majority decision was indeed a collective decision by the members of the Appointment Committee to recommend the 3 nominees.

He subsequently employed the voting method as booths were erected and ballots cast by the MPs on the floor.

At the end, Food and Agriculture Minister-designate, Dr. Afriyie Akoto polled 53.96% out of the 265 ballots issued with one spoilt ballot.

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Mavis Hawa Koomson also secured 60.75% while Mr Oppong Nkrumah accrued 58.65%.

This outcome which saw 3 ministers-designate exceed 50% makes them eligible for approval per the Standing Orders in Parliament.

In the end, all other nominees were approved in a voice vote.

The Speaker indicated that the list will be sent back to the Presidency as the certified individual to man the affairs at the various ministries.

“The house will proceed to communicate the decision to his excellency the President as Parliament having given prior to approval to the nominations,” he said.

Source: Myjoyonline