The Minority caucus in Ghana's Parliament is sticking to its position of not approving any of the ministerial nominees despite participating in the vetting process.
This decision followed a directive by the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, for Minority members of the Appointments Committee to reject all the nominees.
Even after participating in the two-day vetting process and grilling some of the appointees for long periods, the position of the Minority caucus will not be altered.
The Majority caucus in Parliament on Tuesday appealed to the National Democratic Congress as well as the Minority caucus to rescind the decision not to approve the new ministers.
But speaking to the media on Tuesday, Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, said their position remains the same. The Adaklu MP added that their decision was based on principles and not personal interest.
“We stated earlier initially that it has nothing to do with the personalities. We also stated that it was based on principles and that the country's debt levels were unsustainable and government should find a way of realigning ministries. As we speak there is no movement in terms of our decision not to support at this stage, so nothing has changed in our position about approval or disapproval of the nominees.”
The nominees vetted include Bryan Acheampong, who will head the Ministry of Food and Agriculture replacing Dr Afriyie Akoto; Stephen Asamoah Boateng will also oversee the affairs of the Chieftaincy Ministry.
The rest are OB Amoah, now Minister of State at the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Ministry and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, now Minister of State designate at the Finance Ministry.