The case against President Kufuor’s last three

Issues of morality, corruption and citizenship have been raised against three of President Kufuor's recent ministerial nominees.

The two men and one woman may not get an opportunity to serve in government.

The Appointments Committee of Parliament was unanimous that one of the nominees, Rev. Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bi has too many skeletons in his closet and too many questions to answer to be allowed to be part of the Kufuor administration.

The nominee claims to be a reverend minister but the Committee members raised a litany of integrity issues to which he had no convincing explanation.

One, he doesn't have an ordination certificate. He also has a couple of conflict of interest issues hanging over his head following what the Appointments Committee calls his evasive and dishonest responses.

The Committee therefore rejected his appointment outright.

Minority leader Alban Bagbin explained the Committee's objection to the House:

“The Rev. Minister, right down from the beginning was very untruthful to the Committee. His answers were so contradictory and definitely let me assure members that he said you don't need to through any ceremony to be called reverend. I want members to have in their minds the type of reverend minister that we have.

“He said he did a research into building materials and got the assembly to give him money to construct teachers' bungalows and that during rainy season, the whole thing collapsed and became zero and so the assembly asked him to refund the money with interest. Mr. Speaker, it took him five years to refund the principal without the interest and as at today he has not paid the interest. For us to be giving our power, our authority, our resources to such a person as a deputy minister I believe will not be in the interest of the nation.”

The case against the other two nominees was not as unanimous as the one against the Rev. Owusu-Bi.

Most of the objections to the appointment of Kenwood Nuworsu, as Deputy Employment Minister and Vicky Bright as a Deputy Minister at the Office of the President were raised by the NDC minority.

In the case of Mr. Nuworsu, the minority said his moral foundations are weak. Alban Bagbin is the minority leader.

“The issues that came up were that the Serious Fraud Office should be given the opportunity for example, to testify if the report on him were made available to him because he denied ever seeing that report, he had no knowledge of it. the same with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the same with the audit report, which all had negative findings against the nominee. I know that we will not be fighting the personal battles of any husband, but I think that from the report before the Committee, the nominee, Mr. Kenwood Nuworsu when given the opportunity to serve the nation had found himself wanting in many areas.”

Still speaking on behalf of the minority, Mr. Bagbin asked the house to reject the appointment of Vicky Bright, accusing her of behaving arrogantly when she was asked about her dual British-Ghanaian citizenship.

“I have here the report. I know at the committee level, we told the Chairman of the Committee to cross-check from the High Commission whether the mere filing of the form constitute renunciation. I am raising this issue because I don't believe that the mere filing of the form constitutes enough renunciation. Because of that initial issue, and the question of whether she has registered as a voter came up and her initial reaction was so arrogant that members were peeved and in fact there was a spontaneous reaction from almost all the committee members as to the way she responded and the members simply said no, she has to go and produce documents on those issues. I think that it is proper that we re-examine that nominee.

The Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani who did not agree entirely with the line of objection and questions raised, had some questions on his own for the Minority Leader.

Mr Bagbin who has publicly admitted to having an extra marital affair with his sister in law, had a few biblical lessons from the Chief of Staff.

“I think I heard the Hon. Minority Leader saying that he won't speak on behalf of any husband… I think it means something, otherwise he won't tell this House and this borders on morality and therefore I believe I have to talk about that. In the Bible a lady was accused of adultery. And he was reported to Jesus Christ. Mr. Speaker Jesus took a stone… Mr. Speaker Jesus took a stone, and called all of them there and said; 'He who is without sin, let him cast his stone.'”

So as it stands Rev Owusu-Bi has been rejected. But Vicky Bright and Kenwood Nuworsu might sail through if they are lucky enough to enjoy the support of the majority who may have to use its numbers to advantage.