For the sake of parliamentary peace and societal unity, the Minority Caucus has been urged by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, to "balance mercy with justice" and approve all six ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for their respective positions.
He stated to the Parliamentary Press Corps yesterday that it was unfair and, furthermore, given that they were all members of the House, that the minority side had threatened to issue a blanket statement in response to the party executive's order to reject the approval of all six ministerial nominees.
According to Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, it is only right that when someone in the House is promoted, honorable Members support them rather than adopt a rigid stance.
The six nominees awaiting the House's confirmation had their background checks done yesterday by the Appointments Committee.
Nevertheless, the Minority side said that it would not support a consensus vote at the Appointments Committee level, as had been the custom, and would instead see to it that the issue was brought before the entire House for a vote to be conducted in confidence.
According to the minority group, the action was to demand the government reduce the number of its appointees and consolidate some of the departments in order to show leadership during these challenging times.
general appeal
Nonetheless, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh informed the media that it was wrong to deny the public access to such national resources for political reasons, pointing in particular to the deliveries made by the candidates, notably Mr. Bryan Acheampong, who stood out despite lacking agricultural experience.
Last Monday, Mr. Acheampong was approved to succeed Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as Minister of Food and Agriculture, along with five other candidates.
They were Dr. Mohammed Anim Adam, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry; Kobina Tahiru Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry; Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development; and Dr. Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
Apology
Alexander Afenyo-Markin has been contacted by the deputy minority leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to withdraw and apologize for his offensive statements.
The comment, according to Mr. Buah, was regrettable, but his group would not follow them into the "gutters."
The majority side at the time of the 1992 Constitution's drafting boycotted it, so it was wrong to suggest that the minority did not respect the Constitution, he added.
Mr. Buah said that Mr. Afenyo-Markin's comment was improper and that he should apologize.
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