“You have an army of wise men supporting you”—Linda Ocloo’s shortest vetting leaves many stunned

Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister-Designate, has stunned many with the speed and ease of her vetting session.

In an unprecedented move, the entire process lasted less than 10 minutes, with no questions asked by the members of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.

The typically rigorous vetting process, which usually sees in-depth questioning from committee members, was remarkably brief as Ocloo’s strong support base and reputation in Parliament spoke for themselves.

Minority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, known for his sharp questioning, made it clear that he had no further enquiries for Ocloo. Instead, he praised her conduct, remarking, “It appears that you have an army of wise men supporting you. You’ve conducted yourself well in Parliament. You are a respected colleague.”

Afenyo-Markin’s praise of Ocloo came as a surprise, considering his usual role in grilling nominees. He explained that due to her outstanding conduct, additional questions were not necessary. “I don’t see why Honourable Doyoe is so close to you as if there’s going to be a problem.

"I have a few questions for you, which may take about two hours, but don’t panic. Don’t panic. By your good conduct, I’m sure we’ll reserve those questions for another day,” he added with a smile.

The minority leader’s remarks highlighted Ocloo’s strong relationships with influential figures within Parliament, as evidenced by the presence of chiefs from the Shai Osudoku Traditional Area, former ministers, and the two most recent Greater Accra Regional Ministers, Henry Quartey and Titus Glover, all of whom attended to support her.

Ocloo’s rapid vetting reflects the confidence in her ability to take on the role of regional minister, with expectations that she will focus on improving urban development, boosting youth empowerment, and strengthening public services across the Greater Accra region.

As Chairman Bernard Ahiafor formally discharged Ocloo, the vetting process concluded with no further questions. The swift handling of her confirmation demonstrates her solid standing and the trust she has earned from both sides of the House.