Parliament yesterday approved the President's nominees of two Deputy Ministers for the Ministries of Lands and Forestry and Interior.

The nominees in the persons of Thomas Broni, an educationist for the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, a lawyer for the Ministry of the Interior, put up sterling performances and exhibited the capability of taking up their various jobs in the Ministries when they appeared before the Vetting and Appointments Committee (VAC) of Parliament early this week.

In a report presented to Parliament by VAC on Deputy Ministerial Nominations chaired by the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle Constituency, Hon. Freddy Blay, it indicated that no adverse reports, petitions or objections were received from the public when advertisements were placed in the media to determine the competence, experience and suitability of the nominees.

The Committee further observed that the nominees have the requisite qualifications and experience to handle their respective portfolios.

With respect to Broni, Deputy Minister for Lands and Forestry-designate, the Committee noted with precision that, with his academic and professional background as an educationist, there is no doubt that he has the requisite managerial skills to undertake his new assignment efficiently and effectively.

Subsequently, the Committee was impressed with his in-depth knowledge of issues concerning lands and forestry although he does not have a personal experience in that sector.

In respect of Asiedu, Deputy Minister for the Interior-designate, the Committee found his responses to questions on the activities of security agencies posed to him as concise and straight to the point.

The Committee further noted that, Asiedu, a lawyer and an avowed critique of military rule coupled with his international exposure to activities of security agencies elsewhere would be an added advantage in the discharge of his new duties.

This, the Committee remarked, makes him well prepared to aid in the fight against corruption, indiscipline and crime that has engulfed the country.

Meanwhile, Parliament has further approved the budget estimates for a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the 2002 fiscal year.

The estimates aimed at effective running of activities in the various government establishments include a total amount of ?27,742 million for the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment, ?1,270 million for the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs, ?4,800 million for the Ministry of Private Sector Development, ?12,486 million for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and ?471 million for the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator.

The rest are, ?175,543 million for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, ?285,345 million for the Ministry of Defence and ?11,810 million for the Ministry of Mines among other estimates.