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Joseph Osei Owusu Defends Courtesy for Parliamentary Leaders During Vetting
The former Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, has clarified a longstanding convention that accords parliamentary leaders a certain level of courtesy during vetting sessions, especially when nominated for ministerial roles within their legislative domain.
Speaking on Joy News’ Upfront on January 16, the immediate past First Deputy Speaker explained that this tradition is rooted in mutual respect for their leadership roles and contributions.
“When it comes to a person nominated as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, they are often the Majority Leader or a Deputy Minority Leader we already know,” he stated. “These are our leaders, so we’ve moved it in a way that reflects that respect.”
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Joe Osei Owusu highlighted that historically, leaders in such roles often underwent brief vetting, sometimes limited to introducing themselves before being excused.
However, he emphasised that this courtesy is not extended to leaders nominated for other ministerial roles.
“When you are nominated as finance minister, for instance, even if you are a leader, that’s a different ball game,” he remarked, noting the distinction between parliamentary and non-parliamentary portfolios.
Citing examples, he recalled the vetting of current Speaker Alban Bagbin when he was nominated as Minister for Health, stating, “Bagbin didn’t get that courtesy because it wasn’t a role in Parliament. We knew him as Minority or Majority Leader, but the vetting process was thorough due to the nature of the new role.”
The former chairman defended the balance between respect for parliamentary leaders and the need for rigorous evaluations, adding, “If you are nominated as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, external testimonies aren’t necessary. But for other portfolios, the scrutiny reflects the demands of the position.”
His comments come amid discussions about the perceived leniency in vetting parliamentary leaders and the fairness of the process for other nominees.
