Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has criticized the recent vetting of three ministerial nominees by the Appointment Committee of Parliament under President John Mahama.
According to the former Member of Parliament for Suame, the vetting process violated Parliament’s Standing Orders, which govern such exercises.
On Monday, January 13, 2025, President Mahama’s first set of ministerial nominees for the Ministries of Finance, Energy, and Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, John Jinapor, and Dr. Dominic Ayine, respectively, were vetted by the appointment committee of parliament.
Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV, the veteran legislator argued that the necessary conditions for the vetting had not been met, rendering the process flawed.
“Initially, we had a permanent Appointment Committee, just like other committees in Parliament. Now, the Appointment Committee is more fluid, but we have about nine permanent members, with others added. The current Standing Orders, under Order 217, specify who should constitute the Appointment Committee. This is why I say it is fluid.
“The chairperson, ranking member, and two other members from the relevant subject matter standing or select committees should join the Appointment Committee to consider the person nominated by the president for positions such as Chief Justice, Supreme Court judges, ministers, etc. So, those added to the Appointment Committee, for instance, from the Finance Committee, should include the chairman, the vice chairman, and two more members from the Finance Committee.
“But as we speak, the Finance Committee has not been formed. So, how did they meet to vet the nominee for the Ministry of Finance? This whole exercise is a breach of the Standing Orders. Similarly, with the Attorney General’s nominee, the required members of the committee were present, but four members from the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee were supposed to join the Appointment Committee, yet that committee has not been established. So how did they assemble to vet the nominees? The same applies to the Energy Committee.”
He continued: “Furthermore, when a president nominates someone, the Appointment Committee meets, draws a timetable, and the nomination is advertised in the newspapers. Anyone with concerns about the nominee may raise them. Depending on the urgency, the two-week time frame could be shortened to a week, allowing anyone with objections to submit a petition. However, none of these procedures were followed in this case. “Is it the case that John Mahama wants to manipulate Parliament, which is why he’s doing this?” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asked.
