PALPITATIONS GRIP SHERRY MUMUNI

The Appointment Committee of parliament last Saturday failed to vet the five Ministerial nominees who were to appear before it. They were Mr. Joe Gidisu, Minister designate for Road and Highways; Dr. Oteng Agyei, Minister designate for Energy; Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister designate for Lands and Natural Resources; Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister designate for Foreign Affairs and Ms. Shirley Aryitey, Minister designate for Environment, Science and Technology.

After newsmen and sympathisers of the nominees had waited for several hours, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Doe Adjaho came to announce that the committee could not sit to vet the nominees, because members could not reach consensus after a close-door-meeting.

The Chronicle, however, gathered that there were a lot of petitions against Mr. Mohammed Mumuni and Ms Shirley Ayittey, and after a lengthy debate during the close door meeting, no compromise could be reached. To avoid any embarrassment, the members of the committee decided to put off the vetting for the day.

“Honourable Members, distinguish guests, members of the media, first of all, we want to apologise once again profusely. Some of us have been here since 8 o'clock but we've been trying to build consensus over certain issues to enable the House begin its work so that nominees that appear before this Committee, meet the test. As a result of those observations, we are unable to sit today”, Hon. Doe Adjaho told reporters and the general public who were anxiously waiting for the start of the vetting'” the Chairman said.

According to the Chairman, the same nominees would appear before the Appointments Committee today for public hearing at ten o'clock in the forenoon. In order to speed up vetting of the nominees, the Committee agreed to increase the number of nominees to be vetted from an initial five to six. Mr. Mike Hamma, has therefore, been added to the list of nominees who would appear before the committee today.

Mr. Joe Gidisu and Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni in an interview with these reporters expressed disappointment about the decision of the Committee to put off the vetting, having prepared very well for the task of the day. They, however, appealed to their supporters to remain calm.

Observers, supporters and sympathizers who trooped to Parliament to witness the event also expressed their dismay about the postponement of the hearing and appealed to the leadership of the Appointments Committee to do their homework well to avoid any disappointment for the next sitting.