Minority Leader and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has revealed that government representatives personally appealed to the Minority to refrain from questioning Greater Accra Regional Minister-nominee, Linda Akweley Ocloo, during her vetting.
Ocloo’s vetting, which lasted less than 10 minutes, raised eyebrows as no questions were posed by committee members—an unusual occurrence in the parliamentary vetting process. The brief and unchallenged nature of her approval sparked public debate and speculation over the rationale behind such leniency.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Monday, February 3, Afenyo-Markin explained that the Minority’s silence was a direct response to a plea from government officials.
“They came begging that the woman could not stand the scrutiny. So, we just let her go… They said she is a widow and that she could not stand the heat,” he disclosed.
According to him, government officials cited Ocloo’s personal circumstances, specifically her widowhood, as a reason for the request, expressing concerns about her ability to handle the pressure of rigorous questioning.
Despite these considerations, Afenyo-Markin noted that Ocloo met the constitutional requirements for ministerial appointments under Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution, which states that nominees must either be Members of Parliament or qualified to be elected as such. Based on this, the Minority chose not to challenge her appointment.
The revelation has added fuel to the debate surrounding the transparency and fairness of the vetting process, with some questioning whether personal circumstances should influence parliamentary scrutiny of ministerial nominees.
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