Story: News Desk
Parliamentary proceedings were suspended Friday, albeit for a short while as the Majority and Minority sides haggled over whether or not to proceed with voting to approve or reject government’s ministerial nominees.
According to our sources , while the Minority wanted voting to proceed, the Majority insisted the exercise should be postponed.
The Majority members feared they might not have the required numbers to approve President Akufo-Addo’s nominees, while the Minority insisted they wanted voting to proceed and damn the consequences.
They are concerned that in an austere economy as currently faces Ghana, the government must not be seen to be further dissipating its finances through the appointment of a large sized government.
The house has concluded debate on the report of the Appointments Committee which vetted the nominees for ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, and the next step is to put the issues to a vote to approve or reject the nominees.
The two sides have regrouped and getting the stage ready to vote on the nominees.
Adansi Asokwa MP Kobina Tahir Hammond has been nominated to head the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with Dr Stephen Amoah nominated for Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry. Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong has been nominated for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, has been nominated as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Herbert Krapah, a Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry nominated as Deputy Minister for the Energy Ministry.
There is also the Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, who has been nominated as Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.