Evelyn Kumi Richardson
Parliament yesterday unanimously approved all nominees for ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, who were vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament last week with the exception of the nominee for the Bono Region, Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson.
Her approval has been put on hold by the committee.
Mrs. Kumi-Richardson is said to be embroiled in issues related to audit and land which were not adequately addressed at the committee level.
She is also said to have problems with her supposed doctorate degree and the authenticity of the institution that awarded it.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who is the ranking member of the Appointments Committee, said issues with the nominee for the Bono Region are ‘very serious’ and therefore could not be recommended for approval until the committee was completely satisfied that everything is alright.
He said the public must not see the Appointments Committee as a ‘rubber stump’ of the Executive, adding that it has the mandate to thoroughly probe all nominees.
The Minister for Communications and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, expressed concern over the exclusion of the Bono Region nominee and urged the Appointments Committee to quickly resolve those outstanding issues.
The 18 nominees vetted by the Appointments Committee were approved by the plenary after their recommendation by the committee.
Those approved are Babara Oteng Gyasi, Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture; Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Minister-designate for Western Region; Solomon Namliit Boar, Minister-designate for North East Region; Kofi Amoakohene, Minister-designate for Bono East Region; Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, Minister-designate for Western North Region; Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah, Minister-designate for Oti Regon; Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Minister-designate for Upper West Region and Salifu Adam Braimah, Minister-designate for Savannah Region.
The rest are Naana Eyiah, Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources; Alex Kom Abban, Deputy Minister-designate for Health; Yaw Afful, Deputy Minister-designate for Aviation; Siaka Stevens, Benjamin Yeboah-Sekyere, Deputy Minister-designate for Ahafo Region; John Bennam, Deputy Minister-designate for Northern Region; Alex Tetteh, Deputy Minister-designate for Western North Region; Samuel Yeyu Tika, Deputy Minister-designate for Savannah Region; Tahiru Tia Ahmed, Deputy Minister-designate for North East Region and Johnson Avuletey, Deputy Minister-designate for Volta Region.
The MPs were very happy with the approval of the nominees, most of whom are sitting members of Parliament. They were urged to work for Ghanaians and the progress of the country.
Particular mention was made of the Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Naana Eyiah, who told the Appointments Committee that she got pregnant while in school but did not give up on her ambition after delivery.
The Minority Leader also described Kofi Amoakohene and Kwabena Okyere-Darko as true gentlemen, who have very good rapport with members from both sides of Parliament.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr