The ninth Parliament of the fourth Republic has begun its maiden meeting. It had an induction program for the Members.
The essence is to teach or train or capacitate the newly sworn in members to appreciate and understand the workings of the House.
The dos and don’ts of the House.
Their duties and responsibilities as law- makers and other pertinent issues regarding the role of Parliament in the democratic culture of the country.
A Committee called The Appointments Committee of Parliament which has the mandate to vet the ministerial nominees of the President had its maiden sitting on Monday to consider the ministerial nominees of the President.
The three nominees of the President had to appear before it to go through the constitutional procedure, that’s to be vetted to consider their suitability to the various ministries they have been assigned to head as the representatives of the President.
From my perspective and observation the three nominees have distinguished themselves very well.
Dr Ato Forson: Finance Minister Designate, Dr John Jinapor,for Energy and Dr Akutin Ayine, Attorney General and the Minister of Justice.
My observations
As it happened during the vetting of Nana Addo’s Ministerial nominees, the then NDC Minority members were asking all the tough questions and the then NPP Majority members were somehow praised – singing and asking all the obvious (soft)questions.
Today, the table has turned, the NDC majority members are somehow praise- singing the nominees of the President and asking malleable questions, whilst the NPP members the Minority are asking all the tough questions.
The Partisan circus has begun in alacrity and visibly seen by curious observers.
The then Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu and his Chief Whip Mohammed Mubarak Mutaka were hailed for asking probing and tough questions.
They gave the then Chairman of the Committee who also happened to be the First Deputy Speaker,Hon Joe Osei Owusu Herculean times as they would push their ways through to the anger and worry of the NPP members and even supporters.
Afenyo Markin is doing the same today.
I strongly disagree with those who are criticizing the Minority Leader for his tough posture. This must be halted.Afenyo Markin is just doing his work and has quickly emulated Haruna Iddrisu.Period.
And the accusations that he is ‘worrying’ the Chairman of the Committee, the First Deputy Speaker,Hon Ahiafor are unfounded and must be dustbined.
I am sure similar criticisms were leveled against Haruna Iddrisu.
These are politicians and MPs who are doing their politics to satisfy their whims and capricies and putting the interest of the nation in abeyance.
The Partisan Politicians know their antics and they have started with alacrity.
We shall continue to observe the work of the Committee as many nominees will continue to troop in , sixty of them as promised by the President,HE JDM.
God bless our homeland Ghana
Ahmed
The Servant