The ongoing ministerial vetting process has sparked debate over its leadership, with IMANI Ghana Founding President & CEO Franklin Cudjoe openly criticizing the performance of Appointments Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South.
Cudjoe praised Deputy Chairman Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, MP for Cape Coast South, for his handling of the vetting when he stepped in on Monday, February 24, and Tuesday, February 25. However, he expressed disappointment when Chairman Ahiafor resumed his role, describing him as “uninspiring, unprepared, boring, and politically biased.”
According to Cudjoe, Ricketts-Hagan brought clarity and engagement to the vetting process, making it both informative and dynamic. He also commended Co-Chair and Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin for his probing and unconventional questioning style, which, in his view, added depth to the vetting.
“We enjoyed two days of cordial, respectful, and educative vetting with Ricketts-Hagan and Afenyo-Markin, only to return to a chairman who lacks energy and preparedness,” Cudjoe stated. “Ricketts-Hagan should have been the Chairman from day one! He understands the issues, asks the right questions, and ensures meaningful dialogue between nominees and the panel.”
Cudjoe further argued that Afenyo-Markin’s approach made the process engaging, helping the public gain better insight into the nominees. He lamented that Ahiafor’s return to the chairmanship could negatively impact the quality of discussions.
“Be honest, guys. But for Afenyo-Markin, this whole vetting would have been dull, and we wouldn’t have learned so much about the nominees,” he asserted. “You don’t improve things by bringing back the most rigid and uninspiring chairman. Bring back Ricketts-Hagan!”
His comments have ignited discussions on the effectiveness of parliamentary vetting leadership and whether a change in approach is needed to ensure a more rigorous and transparent process.
