Natural Resources Minister designate 'grilled'

The Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister designate Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has been grilled by Parliament's Appointment Committee, Tuesday.

In a vetting proceeding that lasted more than hour, the deputy minister designate had his Curriculum Vitae, his vision as well as plans for the Ministry thoroughly scrutinised by members of the committee.

Some of the members did not understand why the 35-year-old nominee should include in his CV, dining hall president as part of his experience.

Others also wanted to know why he had five children at age 35, Joy FM's Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey reported.

Akando brushed aside criticisms by members of the appointments committee that he is an abrasive person.

Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Ursula Owusu wanted to know how the nominee she described as a "baby with sharp teeth" will fare under a relatively calmer substantive minister.

But upon intervention by the Chair of the Committee, Ebo Barton Odro, the Ablekuma West MP withdrew the baby with sharp teeth comment but still asked how the deputy was going to fare under his new boss to be.

Mintah Akandoh said the question was unfair but went ahead to state that  he will have a cordial working relationship with his minister.

The nominee also proposed that government, as part of criteria for the appointment of DCEs measure the competencies of the prospective appointees in dealing with  poor sanitation as well as their resolve in fighting illegal mining.

When the nominee was also asked to list five major policies of the Ministry, Akandah was said to have fumbled a bit, stating in rather broad terms that the ministry existed to preserve and protect natural resources.

When he was pushed to name at least a policy by the Ministry he could not, Elton Brobbey reported.