Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Slams Mahama for Rushed Ministerial Vetting

Accra, Ghana - 16 Jan, 2025 - Ghana's former Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has launched a scathing attack on President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of breaching parliamentary rules in the vetting of three ministerial nominees.

In an interview with Wontumi TV, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu claimed the president rushed the vetting process, violating the Standing Orders that govern parliamentary procedures. He argued that the exercise was procedurally flawed, as it didn't adhere to the customary one- to two-week period for advertising nominations and allowing public submissions.

The nominees in question are Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for Finance, John Jinapor for Energy and Green Transition, and Dr Dominic Ayine for Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned the validity of the vetting process, suggesting that the president may be trying to manipulate Parliament.

He also expressed concerns about the composition of the vetting panel, citing inconsistencies with the Standing Orders. Specifically, he pointed out that the Finance Committee, which was supposed to provide members for the vetting panel, had not been formed.

“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?

“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 concluded.

Source: Lead News Online