Members of the Minority in Parliament have called on government to scrap what they describe as ‘job-for-the-boys’ appointments at the presidency.
These portfolios, according to the Minority, are not clearly defined, thereby serving as a channel for wastage and therefore must be removed immediately.
In a statement issued by the Minority on Monday, they listed 20 of such portfolios, indicating that such portfolios have only been created to reward political apparatchiks without serving any useful purpose.
If removed, the Minority members of parliament say it will help the country amidst its current economic crisis.
“We are calling for the immediate scrapping of all amorphous creations and waste-pipe, job-for-the-boys’ appointments since the assumption of office of President Akufo Addo in 2017.
“The work of those undefined, amorphous creations must revert to established entities in the civil and public service that perform similar, if not same functions”, portions of the Minority’s statement read.
A copy of the ‘amorphous’ portfolios at the presidency which the Minority want removed.
In a related development, the Minority members have also called for government to reduce the number of cabinet ministers as part of efforts to salvage the ailing economy.
They have also reiterated calls for the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to be sacked, over his alleged mismanagement of the country’s economy.
The calls by the Minority for government to adjust its spending in terms of the number of appointees and the size of government comes on the back of some recent appointments by President Akufo-Addo.
As part of the appointments, a letter from the presidency dated February 7, nominated Dr Stephen Amoah for the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, with MP for Adansi-Asokwa, Kobina Tahir Hammond as the substantive minister.
The nominees are therefore expected to appear before Parliament this week to be vetted accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Minority has expressed its displeasure with the new appointments.
It has subsequently announced its intentions to thoroughly scrutinise the new appointees when they appear before parliament.
“A couple of weeks ago, the President announced names of nominees for Ministerial appointments. The vetting
commenced this morning.
“We in the Minority wish to make it clear that we remain committed to ensuring greater scrutiny and will spare no effort to protect the public purse.
“In line with this, we are taking part in the vetting process so that at the very minimum, we can scrutinize the President’s decision in bringing up those nominees.
“However, the Minority will not subscribe to a consensus vote at the level of the Appointments Committee. This will ensure that the matter is brought before the full House for a vote to be taken in secret”, the state from the Minority on Monday emphasised.
