General News of Monday, 30 January 2017
Source: GhanaWeb.com
2017-01-30
Joseph Osei-Owusu is Chairman of the Appointments Committee
The chairman of the Appointments Committee of parliament has indicated that he is hurt by the scandal that has rocked the committee.
He explained that the decision to have today’s sitting was arrived at after careful consideration of factors with the leadership of the House.
He said the leadership considered suspending the sitting but in consensus agreed that it will amount to halting the plans of government in constituting a government and getting to work.
Reconstituting the committee was also considered but was considered to be practically impossible because the standing orders of parliament does not permit it to happen.
Joseph Osei Owusu explained that it’s with a slot of pain that he sits to chair the meeting.
He lamented about the effect the bribery scandal has had on the committee and the institution as a whole. He said it has resulted in a dip in trust.
He was quick to add that the matter will be dealt with by the leadership of the House and Parliament will investigate to reveal the facts of the matter and will not rest till the matter is put to rest.
He revealed that decisions to pass or reject a candidate is taken right after closure of sittings for the day so it makes it impossible for any nominee to give bribe unless it’s given before the sitting which is highly impossible
Breaking his silence on the matter, minority leader Haruna Iddrisu supported calls by the chairman for a full scale investigation to bring the true details of the issue and reveal the veracity of the matter.
The chairman also indicated that some members of the committee aren’t present because there’s an ongoing orientation for fresh entrants in koforidua to make them abreast with parliamentary procedure.
The chairman expressed his sentiments before the vetting of Anthony Osei Akoto, the first of three to appear before the committee.
Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga on Friday January 27 made claims the Energy Minister through the chairman of Parliament’s appointments committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak attempted bribing members of the committee in order to fast-track the approval of the nominee.
