The Minority in Parliament has accused Bernard Ahiafor, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, of exhibiting bias and partisanship during the Monday, January 13 vetting of ministerial nominees.
At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, January 15, Dr. Gideon Boako, the Member of Parliament for Tano North, alleged that Mr. Ahiafor’s conduct hindered the committee from carrying out a thorough and diligent vetting process. He argued that the Chairman’s actions created a significant barrier to effective scrutiny of the nominees.
Dr. Boako further accused Mr. Ahiafor of adopting a protective stance towards the nominees, which obstructed the committee’s ability to critically examine them. He claimed that Mr. Ahiafor’s approach deprived both the Ghanaian public and the Minority the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive vetting exercise.
He cited specific instances where Mr. Ahiafor allegedly attempted to suppress committee members’ questioning by shouting at them. One such example he said involved Abena Osei-Asare, the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, who was reportedly shouted at by the Chairman while attempting to ask a legitimate question. Dr. Boako argued that Mr. Ahiafor’s actions limited committee members’ ability to ask relevant questions, ultimately fast-tracking the vetting process in a manner he described as unfair.
The Minority defended their opposition to the Chairman’s conduct, emphasizing that their protest was necessary to uphold proper parliamentary oversight. Dr. Boako criticized Ahiafor for disregarding the fact that the individuals he was allegedly bullying were elected Members of Parliament and that the Appointments Committee operates as a sub-body of Parliament, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and accountability.
In addition to the criticism directed at the Chairman, Dr. Boako expressed disappointment in the performance of Finance Minister-designate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during his vetting. He described Forson’s responses as vague, contradictory, and lacking clarity. Given Forson’s experience as a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Dr. Boako expressed expectations for more straightforward and solution-oriented responses from him.
He said Dr. Forson’s failure to provide a clear response regarding the government’s commitment to cover the first-year tuition fees of tertiary students was highlighted as a key example of his unsatisfactory performance.
