Greater Accra Minister designate completes vetting in record time

In what was considered by many as unprecedented in the vetting of President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial nominees so far, the Minister designate for the Greater Accra Region, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, completed her process in a record time of about five minutes as members of the Appointments Committee appeared not to have many questions. 

After being sworn in, she was expected to go through the standard vetting process, where ministerial nominees are typically grilled on their qualifications, policy direction and vision for their respective roles for several minutes if not hours.

However, contrary to the norm, and what the nation had witnessed since the process began on January 13, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shai Osudoku was discharged by the Chairperson of the committee, Bernard Ahiafor, as no member on the committee had any queries for her. 

Her vetting session was only about some conversation with the Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Delegation

Ms Ocloo, a three-term MP for Shai Osudoku, was accompanied to the unusual vetting session not only by members of her party, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) but also by former Greater Accra Regional Ministers of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).  

The contingent included the immediate past Greater Accra Regional Ministers, Titus Glover and Henry Quartey, who later became Minister for the Interior, both of the NPP; the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore; the MP for Ada Constituency, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, and a predecessor MP for Shai Osudoku and former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mike Gizo.

She was also accompanied by friends, family and some chiefs in full regalia. 

Short process

Ms Ocloo began a self-introduction with a list of persons she expressed gratitude to for her nomination before stepping into a brief background about her personal and professional lives followed by the short interaction with Mr Afenyo-Markin.

The Ranking Member then commended her character and recognised a mighty delegation of the cross-political breed accompanying the nominee.

“It appears that you have an army of wise men supporting you. You’ve conducted yourself well in Parliament. You are a respected colleague. I have a few questions for you which may take some two hours. But don’t panic; by your good conduct, I’m sure we will reserve those questions for another day.

“Congratulations! I don’t have the power to discharge you, but I’m sure the chairman is going to discharge you,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.

The Chairperson and First Deputy Speaker, Mr Ahiafor, then permitted her to take leave, saying, “Honourable Minister nominee, you’ll surely hear from the committee. You’re hereby discharged”.

Although it was strictly against parliamentary rules, members of the delegation cheered on the minister designate for her swift completion of the vetting session while the visibly ecstatic Ms Ocloo was seen sharing passionate embraces with her supporters, including Mr Quartey.

Ms Ocloo’s swift vetting could be interpreted as a sign of consensus on her competence and ability to lead the region or the ineffectiveness of the committee to use the opportunity to engage her on numerous pressing issues facing the region.

With her vetting now over, the Shai Osudoku MP awaits parliamentary approval to formally assume office as the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

If confirmed, she will be tasked with overseeing the administration and development of the country’s most populous and economically significant region.

Although the short vetting session was not the first, it was the latest of another exercise involving an MP.

In the past, both Alban Sumana Bagbin of the NDC and Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu of the NPP experienced similar vetting sessions that almost mocked the process when they were leaders of their parties in the House.

Their appearances were mere formalities that asked for virtually nothing and received nothing in return.

At the vetting of the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on January 13, the then Majority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, made reference to a convention at the committee that leaders of the House would not be grilled as he protested the long session Dr Forson was being taken through.