A legal practitioner, Samuel Atta Akyea has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the chairman of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee following the vetting of the first set of ministerial nominees.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile with Samson Lardi Anyenini on Saturday, January 18, he criticised the chairman’s handling of the vetting process, describing it as poorly coordinated.
According to Mr Atta Akyea, the chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, displayed high-handedness during the proceedings, often interrupting opposition members’ questions and failing to moderate effectively.
He suggested that such conduct undermines the scrutiny needed for nominees seeking key governmental positions.
“I am of the view that this is the most important exercise that Parliament undertakes. Those being vetted are individuals who will assist the president in rolling out policies and managing ministries. The strength of the ministers always reflects the strength of the president,” he said.
He argued that the chairman appeared programmed to resist questions from the opposition, rather than allowing the process to unfold impartially.
“The business of a chairman is to moderate, not to obstruct. Respect should be given to the ranking members of the committee and their efforts to scrutinise nominees. I didn’t see any malicious intent in the questions from Afenyo-Markin,” he stated.
He further advocated for a structural change to enhance transparency.
“I wish above all things that the chairman of the appointments committee should be sponsored by the minority, as is done with the Public Accounts Committee. This will ensure that the process is scrutinised properly,” he proposed.
He also criticised the chairman’s tendency to intervene when questions are being asked before nominees could answer questions, suggesting that such actions seemed to protect them unnecessarily.
“It almost looked like an effort to protect the nominees, and that is not the way to go. A strong nominee should be able to handle the questions and respond appropriately,” he emphasised.
He concluded by urging the chairman to allow the process to flow naturally, noting that better coordination would enhance the credibility of the vetting exercise.
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