The Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has said the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Appointments Committee is using the platform for political vendettas.
Speaking on TV3 NewDay on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Mr. Tamakloe remarked that he had closely observed the committee’s vetting process, specifically Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s demeanor and questioning style.
He stated that his observations led him to believe that the platform was being used to settle political scores, a development he deemed as worrying.
“The approach of Afenyo-Markin, relative to questioning, is creating an impression that he is using the august platform of the Appointments Committee to settle political scores. His own conduct has betrayed that particular perception or accusation,” he said.
Referencing instances to support his claims, Edudzi Tameklo specifically pointed out the disparity in the number of hours spent questioning some nominees.
He highlighted how the vetting of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Sam George who were critical of the previous government lasted for extended periods.
In contrast, he noted that some lesser-known nominees were questioned for much shorter durations, with others not being asked a single question.
“There are some MPs who were not at the forefront of the campaign and when they appear before the vetting, they spend less than 15 minutes and are gone. However, others who were at the forefront and led the campaign like Ato Forson and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa are being targeted. He is using the platform of the Appointments Committee for the sole purpose of settling scores,” he stressed.
The legal practitioner further accused Afenyo-Markin of using the vetting process to whitewash the former President Akufo-Addo-led government.
According to him, the irrelevant questions, which go against its sole purpose of scrutinising nominees and assessing their knowledge and expertise for the roles they have been appointed to, could undermine the credibility and integrity of the committee.
“Most importantly, he is using the platform to whitewash Akufo-Addo. Regrettably, I think that the purpose of the committee is to ensure that the persons nominated by President John Dramani Mahama for the specific ministerial appointments are suitable for the role that they have been assigned, and not for political grandstanding. It defeats the purpose of the Appointments Committee,” he stated.
