Afenyo-Markin defends brief vetting of Greater Accra Minister
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has responded to criticism regarding the unusually brief vetting of Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister designate, which lasted less than 10minutes.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, January 29, before the approval of her nomination, Mr Afenyo-Markin justified the expedited process, stating that she had demonstrated cross-party support and was well-known to her parliamentary colleagues.
“She came with a whole support base from both NPP and NDC. So it tells us that she is able to cross the aisle to get support from the other side. This afternoon, some media houses were criticising Parliament for not vetting, not asking her questions.
And you know… what is our defence? Our defence is that we know her as our colleague. We believe that we don’t necessarily need to take her through another grilling because we know she can deliver,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stated.
A record-breaking vetting process
The vetting of Ms Ocloo, MP for Shai Osudoku, was one of the shortest in Ghana’s ministerial appointment history. Unlike the rigorous scrutiny that most nominees undergo, often lasting hours, Ocloo’s vetting ended in approximately five minutes.
Traditionally, ministerial nominees undergo intense questioning regarding their qualifications, policy direction, and vision for their respective roles. However, in this case, the Appointments Committee, led by Chairperson Bernard Ahiafor, appeared to have little to no questions for her.
Ms Ocloo’s vetting session was attended by a delegation that underscored her broad political acceptance.
Among those present were former Greater Accra Regional Ministers from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Titus Glover and Henry Quartey, as well as high-profile members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), such as Greater Accra Regional Chairman Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore and MP for Ada, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah.
Additionally, Mike Gizo, a former MP for Shai Osudoku and a past Greater Accra Regional Minister, was in attendance, along with friends, family, and traditional leaders.
A precedent in parliamentary vetting?
The brevity of Ms Ocloo’s vetting has sparked mixed reactions. While some see it as an acknowledgement of her competence and bipartisan support, others question whether Parliament missed an opportunity to thoroughly assess her readiness for the crucial ministerial role.
This is not the first time a ministerial vetting has been unusually brief. Similar sessions occurred with Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin and Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu when they were leaders of their respective parties in Parliament. These instances, critics argue, set a precedent where parliamentary leaders undergo minimal scrutiny compared to other nominees.
Meanwhile, Parliament confirmed the appointment of the Minister-designate for the Greater Accra Region, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, on Wednesday.