Minority Caucus boycotts vetting of Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Mahama Ayariga and others
The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has reportedly boycotted the vetting of President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial and Supreme Court nominees, creating tension during proceedings of the Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
The development comes as the Appointments Committee was scheduled to consider the nominations of Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, alongside three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court.
Mahama Ayariga, the outgoing Majority Leader and Chairman of Parliament’s Business Committee, has been nominated by President Mahama to serve as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, has also been nominated to serve as Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology.
The two ministerial nominees were originally scheduled to appear before the committee earlier in the week, but the exercise was subsequently rescheduled to Thursday, August 27.
The committee was also expected to vet three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court. They are Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuma Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Anthony Forson Jnr.
However, the Minority’s decision not to participate in the exercise has introduced a fresh political dimension to the parliamentary vetting process.
The Appointments Committee plays an important role in examining presidential nominees before their nominations are presented to the full House for consideration. During the process, nominees are normally questioned on their qualifications, experience, policy positions and suitability for the positions to which they have been nominated.
The vetting of Ayariga is expected to attract particular attention because of his current position as Majority Leader. His nomination means he is set to move from Parliament into the executive branch of government if approved.
His proposed ministerial portfolio covers areas including local government, chieftaincy and religious affairs, making the position significant to the administration’s engagement with local authorities and traditional institutions.
Dr Zanetor’s nomination has also attracted interest, particularly because of the responsibilities attached to the Environment, Science and Technology portfolio. The ministry plays a major role in matters relating to environmental protection, scientific development and technological advancement.
The reported boycott by the Minority raises questions about the proceedings and the relationship between the Majority and Minority sides of the Appointments Committee.
The exact reasons behind the Minority Caucus’ opposition to the vetting will be important in determining whether the disagreement will affect subsequent stages of the approval process.
Parliament is expected to continue dealing with the nominations in accordance with its constitutional and procedural responsibilities. Following the committee’s work, reports on the nominees are expected to be presented to the full House for consideration.
The latest development therefore adds another layer of political interest to a vetting exercise involving two prominent ministerial nominees and three Supreme Court nominees.
As the process unfolds, attention will be focused on whether the Minority will return to participate in subsequent proceedings and how the disagreement will affect the consideration of the nominations.
Source: Thepressradio.com
