Vetting of Greater Accra Regional Minister: The Ahiafor-led committee did Ghanaians a disservice

Her appointment was greeted with mixed reactions. She was not well known to the public so many questioned her capabilities when President Mahama nominated her as the Greater Accra Regional Minister Designate.

For some of her critics, the region is one that is bedeviled with a myriad of issues; sanitation and security being the two most challenging ones. For that matter, the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) version of “Accra Commando” would have been best fit for the job.

But as our elders say, when a child learns how to wash his hands, he eats with Kings. Many thought Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, the three-term Member of Parliament (MP) for the Shai Osudoku constituency had learnt how to wash her hands and that was why the President reposed that confidence in her by giving her the position.

But others thought the question of whether or not she had learnt how to wash her hands could best be answered at the Appointment Committee vetting. After all, was it not the same elders who said that a chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches?  So, for this group of critics, she should be judged based on her performance at the vetting.

So, on that fateful Wednesday evening when Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo appeared before the Committee to be vetted, this writer could imagine the number of people that sat behind their television sets in their homes to watch the proceedings.

Their itchy ears wanted to hear the solutions the woman who bagged a Diploma in Banking and Finance Administration from the Methodist University would proffer to rid the filth that had engulfed the region that houses the seat of government.

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on April 24, 2017, promised to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his first term of office.

“The commitment we are making and which I want you all to make with me is that by the time we end our four-year term, Accra is going to be the cleanest city in Africa,” he said.

The President made this pledge in an address he delivered after he had been installed a chief by the people of Jamestown and the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council under the title Nii Kwaku Abladey Okudzeaman I, which means ‘Royal Warrior who champions the welfare of his people’. His wife was also honoured with the stool name Naa Korkor Abladey Okudzeaman I.

But eight years after that promise, Accra is yet to see any improvement in its sanitation woes. In fact many are of the view that the capital has become filthier and have wondered if the former president’s pledge was made out of a mere excitement due to the chieftaincy title that was bestowed on him.

Be that as it may, people from the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and NDC and some well meaning Ghanaians would still want to walk on streets that are as clean as the garment of a catholic priest.

Aside sanitation issues, there is the protracted conflict between the largest salt mining company in West Africa, Electrochem Ghana Limited and the inhabitants of the Ada community over access, ownership and control over the Songor lagoon.

These and many more issues were the reasons why people’s interest piqued in the vetting of the widow of  Desmond William Ocloo, the husband of the nominee who kicked the bucket after winning the Shai Osudoku parliamentary primaries on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Desmond Ocloo beat David Tetteh Assumeng, the then MP with a total vote of 4,350 to emerge the NDC’s candidate for the 2016 election. But this was not to be as death knocked on his door on the Kumasi road on Thursday, March 3.

In his stead, the party chose his wife. She went ahead to win the 2016 elections as well as the 2020 and 2024. But much was not heard of her until her appointment by President Mahama on January 14.

And until that appointment, those who knew her probably just knew she was the widow of the late Desmond. Her educational, employment and even work as an MP for eight years remained a mystery to be unraveled at the Appointment Committee.

However, viewers were greeted with disappointment that evening. The Committee decided not to question the nominee but rather sing her praises. Even more disappointing were the comments from Mr. Alexander Afenyo Markin, the Ranking Member of the Committee who had gained notoriety for subjecting some nominees to a barrage of questions from cock-crow until the chickens went to roost.

Mr. Markin said to the nominee: “It appears that you have an army of wise men supporting you. You have conducted yourself well in parliament, you are a respected colleague. I have some few questions for you which may take some two hours but do not panic, by your good conduct I am sure we will reserve those questions for another day. Congratulations! I do not have the power to discharge you.”

Mr. Bernard Ahiafo, Chairman of the Committee also acknowledged the chiefs, former ministers and guest who accompanied the nominee and discharged her.

This has left many asking if the Committee that sat on Tuesday, January 28 was the same committee that subjected the likes of Ato Forson, Minister for Finance, Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister for Roads and Highways, Samuel Dzata George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs to a thorough vetting as if it was determined to squeeze the very life out of them.

Well, some of the Committee members and MPs have since sought to justify their actions on the day but Ghanaians would not have it.

Our elders say that a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing and so to some Ghanaians it’s either the rumors about Ms. Ocloo not being gifted in oratory and for that matter unable to put her thoughts together is true or the committee was compromised.

Whatever the situation may be, the committee should know that it has done a great disservice to the residents of Greater Accra and Ghanaians and its actions will be a blot on the reputation of its members forever.

By Agnes Ansah

 

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