Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu Constituency, and a Member of the Appointments Committe of the 8th Parliament has resigned from the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
This comes after days of careful reflection and thoughtful consideration by the former Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Mr Ablakwa who made the statement in a letter dated March 30, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Alban Kingsford Bagbin said he will not rescind his decision.
“I shall like to state that the reasons for this difficult decision is both personal and on principle”, the letter said.
It stated, “Respectfully, do take note that my resignation is with immediate effect and therefore I shall not be available for the vetting of nominees for Deputy Ministerial positions.”
He also extended his sincere gratitude to the Leadership of the House, the Committee of Selection and Leadership of the great NDC for the opportunity to serve as a Member of the Appointments Committee in the 6th, 7th and 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.
His resignation comes just days after the Appointments Committee members especially, the NDC side received criticisms from their own party faithful and other members of the public for approving some of President Akufo-Addo’s nominees who they believed should have been rejected by the Committee.
On Monday, the Committee by a consensus approved Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta following whose approval, a Professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Yaw Gyampo demanded an explanation into the “unanimous” approval despite the intense taint of Mr Ofori-Atta by the NDC side.
However, for the Minister to receive such a rousing endorsement could mean that the criticisms could only be mere allegations.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
