Deputy ministerial nominees cry foul

Some nominees for various portfolios as deputy ministers are unhappy with the Appointments Committee of Parliament for delaying in vetting them.

They say the delays would negatively affect their various ministries.

Seven deputy ministers-designate have yet to be vetted several weeks after they were nominated.

The vetting committee suspended the vetting in order to consider budgetary allocations to the various ministries, departments and agencies.

If the committee is not able to vet the nominees before going on recess which is just around the corner, the vetting will be done in May when the House resumes sitting.

But the affected persons say the committee could vet them side by side the consideration of the budgetary allocations.

The two Deputy Information Ministers designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and James Agyenim Boateng respectively spoke to Joy News about their frustrations.

Mr. Ablakwa said the times lost also meant the government will be unable to fulfill its promises according to the stipulated times it promised the people.

He said since the NDC manifesto had time limits for the attainment of specific objectives, delaying the vetting and subsequent approval of the deputy ministers naturally adversely affected the work of the ministries in question.

He expressed the hope that some arrangements could be made to allow for a speedy vetting of the nominees.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu