The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has served notice that they will not subscribe to consensus voting on Ministerial nominees undergoing vetting at the hands of the Appointments Committee.
Ministerial nominees who fail to get consensus votes are usually taken to plenary for their fates to be determined by secret vote.
The Minority’s stance means the fate of all nominees will be in the hands of Parliament.
The Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson led Minority stated their stance at a press briefing to put out their position on President’s ministerial nominees in the wake of a directive from the National Democratic Congress for all Minority MPs to reject all nominees for ministerial positions.
The Minority has demanding a reduction in the size of government in the wake of Ghana’s economic crisis which has been characterized by galloping inflation, highly unsustainable debt levels and a depreciating cedi.
The Minority at the press briefing said they expected the government to use the opportunity of the exit of some key ministers to streamline ministerial portfolios and cut down the size of government.
President Akufo-Addo’s nominations will have the effect of maintaining the size of government.
The Minority in Parliament says it will participate in the vetting exercise but would not partake in the approval of any ministerial nominee via consensus at the committee level.
“We in the Minority wish to make it clear that we remain committed to ensuring greater scrutiny and will spare no effort to protect the public purse.”
“In line with this, we are taking part in the vetting process so that at the very minimum we can scrutinize the President’s decision in bringing up those nominees.”
“However, the minority will not subscribe to a consensus vote at the level of the Appointments Committee.”
“This will ensure that the matter is brought before the full house for a vote to be taken in secret,” the group stated.
Story: Sena Nombo/Radiogoldlive.com
