The Minority in Parliament has accused the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of exhibiting overt bias and hostility toward their members.
According to Dr. Gideon Boako, a member of the Committee, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of the committee were denied the opportunity to subject the CVs of ministerial nominees presented by President John Mahama to thorough scrutiny.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Tano North expressed dissatisfaction with the vetting process and criticized the performance of some ministerial nominees.
He alleged that many of the answers provided during the vetting were inadequate and failed to address critical national issues.
Concerns Over Finance Minister-Designate
The Minority singled out the Finance Minister-designate for criticism, accusing him of inconsistency and a lack of clarity in his responses.
Dr. Boako pointed to specific instances where the nominee, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Finance and a member of the Finance Committee, struggled to provide concrete solutions to pressing financial concerns.
“For instance, on the matter of whether the government would fulfill its promise to cover first-year tuition fees for students, the minister-designate’s response was highly disappointing,” Dr. Boako stated. “How can a nominee look into the faces of parents and students and claim he cannot answer whether President Mahama’s pledge will be honored because he has not yet assumed office?”
The Minority described the response as evasive, arguing that it cast doubt on the nominee’s preparedness to take up the role of Finance Minister.
Free Senior High School Program Debate
The Minority also criticized the nominee’s response regarding the inclusion of private schools in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program. During the vetting, the Finance Minister-designate reportedly dismissed the possibility of extending the program to private schools, despite earlier promises made by President Mahama during the election campaign.
Dr. Boako noted that President Mahama had engaged with private school leadership during the campaign and pledged to include them in the Free SHS initiative. The Minority expressed disappointment that the nominee appeared unaware of this commitment or dismissed it outright.
“Private schools in Ghana play a significant role in our educational system. It is troubling that the minister-designate seemed ignorant of the president’s pledge to include them in this critical program,” Dr. Boako said.
Call for Accountability
The Minority accused the Finance Minister-designate of failing to demonstrate a thorough understanding of his potential portfolio. They questioned whether proper analysis was conducted before making key campaign promises, such as funding Free SHS and covering first-year tuition fees.
“The lack of clarity and dismissive attitude of the nominee during vetting undermines public trust. The government must ensure that appointees are both competent and transparent in addressing issues of national importance,” Dr. Boako concluded.
The Minority’s allegations of bias against the Appointments Committee Chairman and their concerns about the performance of key ministerial nominees underscore rising tensions in Parliament.
They have called on the Majority to prioritize accountability and transparency in the vetting process to restore confidence in the country’s governance.
The Majority side and the Finance Minister-designate have yet to respond to these allegations.
Source: www,kumasimail.com
