The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has resigned from the Appointments Committee.
The three-term NDC MP said he took the decision based on what he termed personal and on principles.
This comes at a time the leadership of the minority in Parliament and the Appointments Committee in particular have been accused of taking huge sums of money to approve appointees of the Akufo-Addo led administration.
The Appointments Committee of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic is chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Wusu with the 26-member committee constituted with members on each side of the House – 13 NDC members and 13 New Patriotic Party (NPP) members.
Member of Parliament for Effutu and Chief Whip of the NPP caucus, Alexander Afenyo-Markin is the vice chair of the committee, while leader of the NDC caucus, Haruna Iddrisu and Chief Whip of the NDC caucus, Mubarak-Muntaka are ranking members.
The Appointments Committee is among other things responsible for the vetting of nominees for ministerial positions and other public offices.
In a letter dated March 30, 2021 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Mr Ablakwa said he would want to discontinue his membership of the Appointments Committee after days of careful reflection and thoughtful considerations.
This means he will not be present during the vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s nominees for deputy ministerial positions.
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