News:
January 29, 2021
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has revealed that the Minister of Health designate, Kwaku Agyeman Manu would be given priority in his vetting that comes off Wednesday, February 10, 2021 because of the COVID-19 situation.
According to him the Appointment Committee has met and asking for public memoranda on all of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominees for his second term as the clerk to parliament is working on publications in the media.
He further noted that National Security Minister designate, Albert Kan Dapaah and Finance Minister designate, Ken Ofori Atta would also be given same priority, because of the critical role they have to play.
“Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 situation is worrying and gives room for concern, we do not have Minister for Health but the President has appointed someone responsible on the matter of COVID, we may have to ask for an urgent briefing from them on what we are doing, if we have to isolate or take critical decision that would prevent the upsurge in active cases”, he stated.
In a related development, he pointed out that he did not see his colleagues in the Majority Group respect the COVID-19 protocols last week Thursday when they had to take a vote on a private members motion, seeking the President to absorb school fees in public tertiary institutions.
“We have the difficulty of choosing between constitutional obligations and working to avoid the upsurge of the novel coronavirus. Our colleagues should stop leaving in the past, we have 137 to 137, and should stop behaving as if they still have comfort with numbers”.
And revealed that there is a matter before the Parliamentary Service Board to provide broad ban so that MPs can vote from the comfort of their homes and offices, “but when one side decide not to limit their numbers because of essential vote, we shall all bear the consequences by not respecting the protocols”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com