KEY POINTS
- Minority accuses committee chairman of compromising vetting transparency.
- Access to nominees’ documents was restricted, affecting scrutiny.
- Reforms are necessary to ensure future accountability in vetting.
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what it claims was an obstruction of proper scrutiny during the recent vetting process for ministerial nominees.
At the center of the allegations is Bernard Ahiafor, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, who has been accused of compromising transparency and accountability.
Addressing a press conference on January 15, 2025, Dr. Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament for Tano North, criticized the vetting process, highlighting that it fell short of parliamentary standards.
According to Graphic Online, he alleged that the chairman denied committee members adequate access to nominees’ resumes and refused preliminary discussions, ultimately hindering thorough scrutiny.
Lack of transparency raises red flags
According to Dr. Boako, the process, which involved key ministerial portfolios such as Finance, Energy, and Justice, did not meet the required standards of transparency.
He pointed out concern that the timing was not friendly to allow people to make their contributions hence questioned whether this was not politically motivated.
“The Chairman of the Appointments Committee was the main obstacle to a thorough vetting process,” Dr. Boako stated. “His overly protective conduct denied Parliament and Ghanaians the opportunity to ensure proper oversight.”
Call for reforms in parliamentary vetting
However, the Minority stressed that they were not against the development agenda of the government in as much as they have concerns on the matter.
But they cautioned that future vetting must undergo proper reforms to meet the standards of open and parliamentary scrutiny.
Proposed measures engaged concerned parties adopting more neutral and constructive attitudes so as not to produce extreme oversight.
