Minority Leader and Ranking Member on 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-designate, Linda Akweley Ocloo, during her vetting session on January 28, 2025.
Ocloo’s vetting, which lasted under 10 minutes, has sparked widespread debate, as no questions were posed to her—an unusual departure from the rigorous scrutiny typically faced by ministerial nominees.
Government’s Plea to the Minority
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, February 3, Afenyo-Markin explained that the Minority’s decision not to question Ocloo was based on a request from government officials, who cited her personal circumstances.
“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, so we let her go,” he disclosed.
He further justified the decision by referencing Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines the qualifications for ministerial appointments.
Legal Basis for Appointment
Article 78 states that a ministerial nominee must either be a Member of Parliament or eligible to be elected as one. Afenyo-Markin indicated that since Ocloo met these criteria, the Minority saw no need to challenge her nomination.
The revelation has reignited discussions about transparency in the vetting process, with some questioning whether personal circumstances should influence parliamentary scrutiny.