The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has asked the Minority Members of Parliament on the Appointments Committee to desist from bastardising the Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.

Speaking with JoyNews' Parliamentary Correspondent Kwesi Parker Wilson, he insisted that Owusu Afriyie Akoto should rather be commended for his enormous leadership role by introducing policies that brought a facelift into the agricultural sector.

“I get the impression that he rather sought to correct what is wrong to really have the way smoothened for our farmers and exporters so unless there is something contrary to that that I don’t know, I think rather he should be commended and not bastardise.”  

His comment comes on the heels of the rejection of three of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson and Minister-designate for Food Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto were rejected for various reasons.  

Regarding the Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, he was accused of unilaterally cancelling a horticulture contract with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority on January 11, 2021, without authority.

This cancellation according to the Minority Group is unauthorised as he was only a caretaker Minister.

Further, the cancellation, they say, led to a $50 million judgment debt for the country.

However, Kyei Mensah commended the nominee for abrogating the contract which he claims rather benefited the country.

He, also revealed that the nominee after his rejection submitted documents to clarify all substantial issues levelled against him.