Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has described the vetting of ministerial appointees as "useless" and of no essence.
According to him, the culture where ministerial appointees are subject to vetting and televised to the nation used to be very exciting but has absolutely lost its value today.
Speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme in relation to the vetting of the Ministers designate for Ministries such as Trade Ministry, Food and Agriculture Ministry among others, Mr. Pratt stated that the vetting is no longer appealing to the Ghanaian masses because it has now become unduly unserious.
To him, the vetting has turned into a comic relief instead of a serious business to assess the appointees.
He cited an instance where an appointee was once asked to sing hymns which he found to be unacceptable.
"How vetting started is not how it is going today. During the time when vetting of Ministers began, it was difficult to leave your Television set because we all wanted to know if the Ministers could indeed execute their tasks effectively and what about their attitudes. Frankly, we have ruined it. Today, it is of no value; a lot of people don't watch it again...This time, the vetting is not exciting as it started. I don't the usefulness of the vetting today", he said.
New Appointments
President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Kobina Tahiru Hammond as the new Minister of Trade and Industry, taking over from Alan Kyerematen who recently resigned from his position to contest for NPP Flagbearer position for election 2024.
Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi Constituency, is also going to head the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Former Director-General of SIGA Stephen Asamoah Boateng is to head to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Mohammed Amin Adam is now the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance while Osei Bonsu Amoah is the Minister of State for Local Government.
The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and head of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah, is to serve as a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and Herbert Krapa, a Deputy Trade Minister has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister.
Mr. K.T Hammond and Bryan Acheampong took turns yesterday before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee with the members vetting them before they can be approved for their new positions.
