House begins vetting next Friday

Spread, Jan 30, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament is to commence vetting of presidential nominees for various ministerial positions next Friday, February 6, 2009.
All 35 nominations so far made by the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, have already been referred to the Appointments Committee and after the days allowed for the public to submit memoranda on the nominees elapse on Monday, February 2, the nominees will appear before the committee chaired by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, for vetting.
Those expected to be vetted include Mr Iddrisu Haruna, Communication; Mr Mike Hammah, Transport; Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Education; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Women & Children's Affairs; Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Tourism; Alhaji Collins Dauda, Lands and Natural Resources; Dr Oteng Agyei, Energy, and Ms Sherry Ayittey, Environment, Science and Technology.
The rest are Mr Mamoud Khalid, Upper West; Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo; Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Mr Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Region; Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Region, and Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Region.
The remaining 19 nominations were announced last Tuesday and are also expected to be vetted soon. They include Mrs Zita Okai Kwei, Ministry of Information; Mrs Halutie Dubie Alhassan, Minister at the Presidency; Dr Kwabena Duffour, Ministry of Finance; Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith (retd), Ministry of Defence; Cletus Avoka, Ministry of the Interior; Dr George Yankey, Ministry of Health.
Others are, Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; Mr Moses Asaga, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Ministry of Youth and Sports; Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture; Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Mr Joe Gidisu, Ministry of Roads and Highways, and Azong Alhassan, Minister at the Presidency.
The rest are Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Region; Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Region; Mr S. S. Nanyina, Northern Region, and Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Region.
A number of the ministerial appointees who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed their appreciation to the President for recognising their potential for the achievement of objectives set out in the NDC’s campaign manifesto.