The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has tendered in his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament indicating his decision to step down as a member of the Appointments Committee.
He delivered the letter to the Speaker, Alban Bagbin and the Minority Leader, Haruna Idrissu on Tuesday night.
The exact reason for his resignation is not yet known however he says the decision is personal and based on principle.
Describing the resignation as a “difficult” decision, he said he took the step after “careful reflection and thoughtful considerations.”
The North Tongu legislator added that he will not be available for the vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s yet-to-be-announced deputy ministerial nominees.
“My resignation is with immediate effect and therefore, I shall not be available for the vetting of nominees for Deputy Ministerial positions,” a part of his letter read.
Meanwhile, Citi News understands that the Speaker of Parliament has requested a meeting with him over the decision.
Mr. Ablakwa has been a member of the committee since the 6th Parliament which was inaugurated in 2013.
The committee has been criticised in recent times for approving some ministerial nominees some Ghanaians had issues with.
The recent approval of Ken Ofori-Atta as Minister for Finance saw some members of the NDC chastising their representatives on the Appointments’ Committee for not being thorough and critical of the nominee.
Deputy Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo broke ranks with the Minority Caucus in the House over the approval of Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister.
He said he has so many doubts about Mr. Ofori-Atta, insisting that his side should have rejected his nomination.
“I have stayed out of the media because of the question of why we approved Ken Ofori-Atta. I don’t want my name to be dragged in the mud when I do not have control over the processes leading to the approval of one of my fiercest critic,” he said.
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
