Ministerial appointment of Ayariga put on hold

The ministerial appointment of the former press secretary to President John Evans Atta Mills, Mahama Ayariga, has been put on hold by parliament on Thursday.

His plight stems from the fact that he was accused of purchasing five tractors while in office as presidential press secretary and which was used against him at the vetting, as that was classified as a conflict of interest.

The parliamentary appointment committee approved the nomination of seven ministers, rejecting only that of Mr. Ayariga, although the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) had earlier cleared him of any conflict of interest.

Mr. Ayariga was nominated for Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.

Some of the newly approved ministers are Alban S. K. Bagbin, Water Resources, Works and Housing, who is outgoing majority leader in parliament, Mr. Enoch Tei Mensah, new Employment and Social Welfare, Martin Amidu, Interior, Alhaji Inusa Feuseini, deputy Energy and Akua Sena Dansoa, the first female Sports Minister.