The President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills has withdrawn the nomination of Moses Asaga, MP of Nabdam, as Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister-designate. A statement signed by Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga announced the decision of the president to withdraw the nomination but gave no reasons. Asaga was one of several nominees for appointment into ministerial positions currently facing vetting by a parliamentary committee. He once served as Deputy Finance Minister in the previous National Democratic Congress government headed by ex-President Jerry Rawlings. There are claims in political circles that the nominee, slated to go before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on February 12, 2009, was withdrawn because of an alleged role he played in the approval of a 20-million dollar ex-gratia for the executive of the immediate past J.A. Kufuor-led administration. Asaga is held to have approved the remuneration without recourse to his colleagues in parliament or the transition team of the new government led by President Mills.