Appointments Committee is becoming a comedy show – Kwesi Pratt

Kwesi Pratt has criticized the nature of Ghana’s ministerial vetting process, arguing that the Appointments Committee has turned it into an unserious exercise filled with irrelevant and laughable questions.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, the veteran journalist recalled an instance where a ministerial nominee was asked about his TikTok activity instead of matters relevant to his competence.

“I watched as they asked him, ‘Oh, we know you are a TikToker. Before coming here, did you post anything?’ And I thought maybe they had seen a post that was relevant to his character or work. But no! It was nothing like that. I sat there watching and asked myself, ‘What a joke! What is this about?’” he recounted.

Pratt also ridiculed instances where nominees were asked to sing songs during the vetting.

“Another nominee was asked to name his favourite song. He answered, and they told him to sing it! My goodness! What is that? Is the vetting process now a talent hunt?” he questioned.

He recalled past cases where nominees were asked to sing church hymns and the national anthem, a practice he finds completely unnecessary.

“A nominee was told, ‘You go to church? You must know hymns. Sing your favourite hymn.’ Another was asked to sing the national anthem. What is happening?” he asked in disbelief.

Pratt dismissed arguments that such questions help nominees relax, stating that the ability to handle stress is crucial for a ministerial role.

“If someone nominated for a ministerial position becomes so nervous before the Appointments Committee that you have to make them sing a hymn to relax, then they are not qualified to be ministers. The job of a minister involves a lot of stress. If they can’t handle it, they shouldn’t be there,” he argued.

-MyNewsGH