Three have their day in Parliament
That decision of the Minority notwithstanding, the Majority members on the committee, who numbered 14 at the beginning of the exercise, went ahead to vet the nominees since the committee needed only one-third of the 25-member committee to transact business.
Mr Seth Terkper, who was the first to appear before the committee, attributed the phenomenon of payment of judgement debts to improper tendering, contract formulation and cancellation of contracts without going through laid down contract specifications.
He said to solve the problem, there was the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General's Department and the strengthening of the legal department of the ministry to ensure that contracts were couched to favour the state.
On fiscal discipline, the minister-designate said should he be given the nod, he was going to make sure that ministries, departments and agencies spent within what had been budgeted for them.
Answering another question on the country's shift from concessionary loans to commercial loans, Mr Terkper said that Ghana's chances of acquiring concessionary loans had been limited as a result of its attainment of a lower middle-income economy.
He explained that the issue of the country's debt went beyond the cost, adding that "we are aiming to keep the country within debt sustainability limits. As a country we prefer to go for loans on soft terms and of a very long period of payment".
Answering another question on reports about his human relations at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Terkper said, in his attempt to ensure that proper things were done in the interest of the country, he might have incurred the displeasure of some members of staff.
Mr Terkper added that he had a cordial relationship with the staff, explaining that there was the need for systems to be put in place to ensure fiscal discipline.
When she took her turn, Ms Tetteh said that the situation in Mali where rebels had seized the northern part of the country should be the concern of all West African countries.
She said it was for that reason that Ghana had committed 120 soldiers to assist in the efforts by the international community to quell the insurgency.
On reports of extortion of money by some staff at Ghana’s missions abroad from Ghanaians who sought their assistance, the nominee said such unscrupulous staff would be dealt with should any of them be caught.
On Cote d’Ivoire, she explained that the relationship between Ghana and that country had been misinterpreted by the media, and promised to strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries should she be given the nod.
On the situation in Palestine, the Foreign Minister-designate stated that the country respected the rights of the Palestinians, explaining that "we support the two state solution to the problem".
For his part, the minister-designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, acknowledged the gap between water production and requirement in the regions.
For instance, while the production of water in Accra was 89 million gallons per day, the total requirement was 122 million per day, he said, stressing that the government was working around the clock to close the gap.
On housing, he stated that Ghana needed to construct 170,000 housing units a year to enable it make up for the housing deficit of 1.7 million.
He stated that the government would require GHC241 million to complete the affordable housing projects started by the previous NPP administration.
Alhaji Dauda explained that the Tema Development Corporation, the State Housing Company and the military had taken over 72 units of the affordable housing projects at Kpone under an agreement with the ministry, and said those projects would be completed for occupation by June, this year.
The minister-designate promised to organise a stakeholders meeting to discuss how the country's rent law promulgated in 1963 would be modified to ensure a win-win situation for landlords and tenants.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the committee and First Deputy Speaker, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro said it was unfortunate that members of the Minority on the committee had decided to boycott the sitting.
He said while coming for the sitting, he received a call from the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu informing him about the decision of the Minority side not to be part of the sitting.
Mr Barton-Odro explained that the committee needed nine members to form a quorum and half of its total number to take decisions as per the Standing Orders of the Parliament.
The vetting exercise continues tomorrow.
Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, Roads and Highways; Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Food and Agriculture; Alhaji A.B. Inuisah Fuseini, Lands and Natural Resources, and Mr Mahama Ayariga, Information, are expected to take their turns to answer questions from the Appointments Committee.
Story by Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Mark-Anthony Vinorkor
