The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has criticised the ministerial vetting process, claiming it is focused more on scrutinising nominees’ past political statements than evaluating their competence and qualifications for the positions they have been nominated for.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, Mr Braimah stated, “The process is really aimed at scrutinising people’s past political rhetoric and commentary, rather than focusing on competence, experience, and the issues related to the roles they have been appointed to.”
He cited the vetting of Foreign Minister and Communications Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Samuel Nartey George, where the minority attacked them for comments they had made about former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“It was more about what you said about former President Akufo-Addo, you did this, you are involved in ORAL, where do you live, and so on,” he said.
Mr Braimah expressed his expectation that the committee will focus on addressing critical issues affecting the country and how to tackle matters such as “geopolitical issues and other global events that have significant implications for our nation.”
He also condemned the minority for criticising nominees who had openly criticised former President Akufo-Addo, asking, “Is the minority or the NPP group suggesting that it is a crime to have been critical of the president or the Chief Justice?”
Parliament’s Appointments Committee has vetted and approved several ministers, including those for Finance, Energy, Justice, Lands and Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Roads and Highways, and the Interior.
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