Ministerial Vetting: Reject Nomination Ato Forson tells O.B. Amoah

Newly appointed Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has suggested to the Minister of State Designate for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. O.B. Amoah to consider rejecting his nomination for that position.

He opined that taking into consideration the economic conditions the country is going through these days, it would be only proper for the Minister-designate to reject his nomination since that is going to cost extra the country economically.

Hon. Ato Forson made this suggestion during the vetting of the Minister-Designate in Parliament House last Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

“Don’t you agree with the suggestion that you should reject your nomination, looking at the present harsh economic situation in the country?” Ato Forson posed to the Minister-Designate.

To this, Hon. O.B. Amoah replied “I don’t agree with you because it will not cost the nation much!”

He argued that as a Member of Parliament and a Deputy Minister at that Ministry, he takes his salary alright and he does not think that his new position, though a step higher will cost the nation much. Also, because he lives in his own house and already has his own car.

Ato Forson maintained that this will surely cost that nation and thereby worsen the already bad economic conditions prevailing in the country.

Rescind Your Decision – Majority Chief Whip Tells Minority

In another development, the Majority Chief Which, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh has appealed to the Minority group in Parliament to rescind its decision to reject the president’s nominees of Ministers.

He also appealed to the General Secretary, Chairman and the leadership of the party as well as their leadership in parliament to accept his plea and “Tamper Mercy with justice and approve of them because the nominees are one of their own and should be accorded the necessary cooperation.

“Let’s tamper mercy with Justice, even though it’s not the best expression to use here. Let us support them and let go the nominees. This is because this is a very important government decision,” he stated in a press conference with the Parliamentary Press Corps.

The chief whip was of the opinion that once the nominees do not have any criminal records, they should be accorded the appropriate approval.

According to him most of them are very experienced and good materials. Touching on the down-sizing of ministers, Hon. Annoh-Dompreh wondered how a Ministry like Agriculture could down size its Ministers.

He maintained that they should not discard these experienced ones on the altar of Political expediency.

“Leadership of the NDC Party should therefore reflect soberly on the issue and do the needful,” he appealed.

By S.O. Ankamah