Vetting: 8 reasons NDC MPs rejected Hawa Koomson and Afriyie Akoto
The 13 Members of Parliament from the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday, March 1, 2021, rejected three ministerial nominations presented by President Akufo-Addo.
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They unanimously rejected the Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Fisheries and Aquaculture minister-designate, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and Agriculture minister-designate, Afriyie Akoto.
They were unimpressed with the responses they got from them when some questions were thrown at them during the vetting.
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YEN.com.gh however looks at eight combined reasons why the minority on the appointments committee of parliament rejected them.
Mavis Hawa Koomson
Mavis Hawa Koomson's vetting topped the headlines for various reasons. Below are some four reasons she was rejected according to the NDC MPs on the Appointments Committee of Parliament
1. They noted that Hawa Koomson could not give good grounds for the shooting incident that occurred during the Voter Registration Exercise in her constituency on 20th July, 2020 despite the fact that she apologised for her actions.
2. The minority MPs said claims of the ongoing investigation with regard to the shooting incident do not look credible since there has not been any form of an update since the incident happened.
3. The nominee confirmed the identity of close associates who have unleashed a reign of terror on helpless political opponents in the pursuit of their narrow political ends.
4. They also noted that she showed little or no knowledge of the sector she was supposed to occupy
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
The former minister of food and agriculture in Akufo-Addo's first term in office was mentioned as one of the rejected ministers.
Below are some reasons why he was rejected.
1. According to the NDC MPs, even under oath, Afriyie Akoto was untruthful about his order to cancel the contract of the Fruit and Export Terminal Contract of 2015 by GPHA.
2. They noted that his singular decision to cancel the contract on January 11, 2021, even as a caretaker minister could lead to a $50million judgement debt.
3. They also said he was grossly insincere with the Appointments Committee on his special relationship with the Director of AMG Company Limited and his control of fertilizer contracts awarded by the Ministry.
4. The minority of the Appointments Committee said the nominee was discourteous, condescending, and arrogant when he took his turn for the vetting.
Still on politics, the former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has vowed never to return to the party even if he is recalled.
The NDC in May 2020 suspended Allotey Jacobs for “persistent anti-party conduct.”
The suspension was pursuant to articles 46(1), 46(6), and 46(8) of the party’s constitution.
Speaking to a Radio station based in the newly created Oti Region, Allotey Jacobs said he was not perturbed by the suspension.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
