The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has accused the Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee of Parliament of using the platform to settle political scores.

Expressing his views on TV3 NewDay on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Tameklo stated that he had observed the vetting processes conducted by the committee, particularly the posture and line of questioning by Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin to some members.

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.

Citing 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, the Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, and other prominent figures in the NDC campaign, 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 conceal unfavorable events from the former President Akufo-Addo-led government in an effort to protect the government’s reputation.

He maintained that the other irrelevant issues being addressed on the platform, which goes against its sole purpose of scrutinising nominees and assessing their 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 stressed.

MAG/AE

Meanwhile, watch as chaos erupts at Parliament over vetting of Okudzeto Ablakwa and Mintah Akandoh