Anny OSABUTEY
Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Akweley Ocloo’s vetting remains the shortest in the history of Ghana politics, and maybe the Gold Coast.
Like most Ghanaians who were watching the vetting, I was stunned when after briefly using the washroom, I came back and I heard the chair of the appointment committee, Bernard Ahiafor say: ” You will hear from the committee”.
Obviously unaware of what had transpired and looking for answers, I went on Facebook and X or Twitter, and Ghanaians were having none of it. “How are you going to ask the woman to go home, like seriously!” one user on X posted. With all the problems in the region, including the scale of filth, people were shocked not a grain of question was thrown at the minister.
But as it has become the norm, the committee, mainly members of parliament, didn’t surprise anyone with their conduct. If one is a keen follower of the vetting process in this country, the heavy questions often come from the minority side of the house, while the praise singing is mostly done by those on the majority; though some also seek to ask the critical questions.
So, for someone who has observed the process over the years, I am not really surprised by the “you are my friend and I know you can do the job, or we entered Parliament together and I want to thank his excellency for your appointment” style of questions often thrown at nominees. But to ask a nominee to swear an oath and then asked her to go home to the comfort of her family and warm bed that night was the first time an episode like that had unfolded before everyone or at least those who watched the process.
Just as we were all trying to move past that night, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said they were engaged behind closed doors not to scrutinise the nominee. “They kept begging that the woman could not stand the scrutiny, so we just let her go. We decided to let it be,” he told GTV in an interview.
“Well, they were begging, saying she couldn’t stand the heat. Obviously, she’s a widow. They said she was a woman and had other challenges, so we let it go. After all, she qualifies,” he further added.
Before his appearance on GTV, Mr. Afenyo-Markin had appeared on Channel One’s Point of View programme with with Bernard Avle. In between the interview, he was asked why the committee decided not to ask Mrs. Ocloo any question. Were they tired? He said no. According to the MP, the committee was aware of the strengths and weaknesses of nominees who appear(ed) before them. “Well, it’s part of it. When you ask too many questions, you are in trouble. When you don’t ask at all, you are in trouble.” In an attempt to seek solace from what the committee didn’t do right, he referenced a similar incident with the late J. H. Mensah, an economist and former UN employee who served in President Kufour’s administration.
Now late, Mr. Mensah was a member of the 1996-2000 Parliament, the best for me, and one of the country’s brilliant economists. Sad he didn’t write his memoir. Sorry for the digression, but back on Afenyo-Markin and the Madam Ocloo situation. The Efutu MP’s explanation was that people are entitled to be disappointed in what happened that night.“That’s one of our failures, isn’t it? It’s one of those things—you would disagree with us, but I would leave that with you. You have every right to disagree with us.”
So having said what he told Bernard Avle, it is a bit strange that the same MP was on radio, trying to exonerate himself from what they have collectively agreed to do as members of the committee. Was he trying to throw somebody under the bus? And although the begging happened, did anything else accompany the “begging”?
Madam Ocloo has since been sworn in and one of her high profile engagements involved a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Jospong Group – Joseph Siaw, whose company, Zoomlion, is the sole collector of waste in the country and the region.
Following the splashing of photos of that meeting on her social media handle, a good number of people on social media expressed revulsion and cautioned her to be careful. Mr. Siaw and his businesses know how to wash their hands when it comes to feasting on the meat political power brings, but not many are excited about his presence at the table; he comes with his own motive, after eating more than enough.
His company is embroiled in all manner of opaque contracts in the waste management space, a situation which has rendered assemblies across the country impotent in the performance of their duties, while large chunks of waste remain uncollected.
Accra – and several parts of the region – is one of the filthiest cities in the sub-region and if the minister expects the various assemblies to be effective in helping her “every last Friday of the month” sanitation concept, then she has to review the existing contracts with Zoomlion and make sure the assemblies derive benefits from the waste generated in their areas of operations.
For example, in Prampram, I see young men come to collect trash and later dump them at the cemetery, a sacred place for the departed. Unfortunately, the assembly can’t enforce any regulation because it is not in charge of the collection.
Zoomlion is a Ghanaian business and it is in our collective interest that it succeeds, but it must also not be allowed to continue raping the sanitation purse; thus denying the various assemblies revenue that will ensure they play an oversight responsibility in the generated waste in their communities.
You cannot build a successful Ghanaian business through monopoly; it should never be encouraged; and for once, under this regime, the existing contracts with Zoomlion have to be looked at again. And for madam Ocloo, it will be in her interest to make that happen.
But if she wishes to be part of the cycle of regional ministers who are happy to model in political lingerie purchased with the sanitation money bag, then we wish her all the best. Ours is for our assemblies to be empowered to work; in words and in finance.
