The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has strongly denied allegations that Foreign Minister-designate Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was “smuggled in” for vetting during the ministerial screening on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Appearing before the committee investigating the chaos on Wednesday, February 5, Agbodza clarified that Ablakwa’s vetting had been scheduled for January 30.
However, the session was disrupted after nominees originally set for Wednesday, January 29, could not be vetted due to the unexpected appearance of social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
Agbodza explained that tensions escalated on January 30 when the Majority insisted on proceeding with the vetting despite the Minority’s objections. The Minority, citing a lack of proper consultation, resisted the vetting of Ablakwa and Health Minister-designate Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
This standoff ultimately led to the suspension of four MPs, a decision that Speaker Alban Bagbin later reversed on Tuesday, February 4.
Dismissing claims of a last-minute arrangement, Agbodza stressed that Ablakwa’s appearance had been planned in advance and was not an attempt to bypass parliamentary procedures.
“I know Hon. Ablakwa wanted to be vetted a week before the incident happened. They couldn’t give him the opportunity to be vetted. So, originally, Hon. Ablakwa was supposed to be vetted on Thursday, January 30, so if anybody says Hon. Ablakwa was smuggled in on Thursday, that is not true.”
Agbodza further explained that the committee decided to carry forward five nominees from Wednesday, January 29 to be vetted alongside the three originally scheduled for Thursday, January 30.
“The spillover from Wednesday, January 29, 2025, where five nominees originally were scheduled to be vetted were added to the three. We had a situation of three plus five. That decision had to be made by the committee and have some leeway.
“If anyone says, we were originally to vet three, we give in and make it four and somebody is trying to make it five, that is not entirely the situation. The situation was the Appointments Committee elected not to vet on Wednesday, and they had made people know that there will be vetting of 8 people.”
Kpeve treatment plant to get new pumps by mid-March – GWL
…..
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spam, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital