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Minority Leader and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has disclosed that government officials personally urged the Minority to refrain from questioning Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo, during her vetting on January 28, 2025.
Ocloo’s screening lasted less than 10 minutes, an unusually brief session that raised concerns about the lack of interrogation. The decision to allow her to pass without scrutiny has since sparked widespread debate and speculation.
In an interview with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, February 3, Afenyo-Markin clarified that the Minority’s silence was in response to a direct appeal from government representatives.
“They came begging that the woman could not stand the scrutiny. So we just let her go… They came begging that the person could not stand the heat. They said she is a widow and that she could not stand the scrutiny, so we let her go. After all, she qualifies under Article 78, and so we let her go,” he explained.
According to Afenyo-Markin, government officials cited Ocloo’s personal circumstances, particularly her status as a widow, as a reason for their plea, arguing that she might not have been able to endure the pressure of rigorous questioning.
Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana outlines the qualifications for ministerial appointments, requiring that nominees be either Members of Parliament or eligible to be elected as such. Since Ocloo met these criteria, the Minority chose not to challenge her appointment.
This revelation has further fueled discussions on the transparency and fairness of the vetting process, with questions being raised about whether personal circumstances should influence parliamentary scrutiny.