Parliament Approves Vicky Bright's Appointment As Deputy Minister

Parliament by consensus yesterday approved a report of the Appointments Committee on the nomination of Miss Vicky Bright as Deputy Minister.  The Appointment Committee has satisfied itself that the nominee has renounced her British citizenship in accordance with the British Nationality Act.
     
'The Committee is of the view that Ms Victoria Bright is qualified under the constitution and the Standing Orders of the House to be appointed as Deputy Minister at the Office of the President,' Mr Freddie Blay, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, said when he presented the report to the House.
     
'The Committee therefore recommends to this Honourable House her nomination for approval by consensus,' he added.
     
The question of Ms Bright's dual citizenship was raised when she appeared before the committee last year for vetting. The Committee had to defer its decision on the nominee for work to be done on certain aspects of her testimony during vetting.
     
Mr Blay said Ms Bright tended in evidence from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the British Home Office dated July 27, last year, showing that she had paid the requisite fee and duly renounced her British citizenship.
     
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, MP Tamale South in his contributions to the motion for the adoption of the committee's report, said Ms Bright's appointment brings the number of ministers serving in government to 85.
     
He, together with some members from the NDC, called for a review of the constitutional provision in article 78, saying too much power was left in the hands of the President to appoint any number of ministers.
     
They said Parliament should be able to exert influence to place a check on the powers of the President in order to cut down on the large size of government.