Parliament has today, Tuesday, 1 August 2023, granted approval to Cynthia Jane Naa-Koshie Lamptey's appointment as the Deputy Special Prosecutor.
Nevertheless, concerns were raised by the Minority over the handling of her vetting process, which was conducted in camera. This decision sparked debates about potential consequences for future appointments.
During the session, the MP for Asawase expressed his disapproval of the confidential vetting, asserting that just because someone is being re-nominated does not justify a closed-door vetting process.
He pointed out that the standing orders of the appointment committee stipulate that vetting should be public, and he urged against deviating from established procedures.
While acknowledging that the decision to vet in camera was not necessarily incorrect, the MP voiced apprehensions about the implications it may have for the credibility and transparency of the parliament. He emphasized that this kind of selective approach might weaken the public's trust in the parliamentary proceedings.
Mr Muntaka further stressed that even when vettings are conducted openly, doubts and questions from the public are still common. The MP asserted that if the public is informed that approvals were granted in private, it could further erode trust and faith in the parliament's functioning.
He said “I’m not saying what we’ve done is wrong but the moment we pick and choose, tomorrow another minister or somebody else will use that and say ‘why am I not been vetted in camera’ and by the time we realise we will further weaken this house”.
“This house is already weak and we can never run away from that, the public don’t even trust us. Even when we sit before the cameras and vet, they still come with questions and doubts about ‘why didn’t you do this, why didn’t you do that’ and now if all they will hear is that we are approving people and we did it in camera it’s not good,” he added.
The former Minority leader cautioned that the appointment committee must assert its authority and recognize the importance of public scrutiny. He warned against introducing variations to the established vetting process for specific individuals, as it might raise suspicions and complicate accountability.
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