ADVERTISEMENT

Parliament to debate Otiko Djaba's approval

The Minority in Parliament on Friday pushed for the vote to be cast immediately but the Majority insisted the vote be deferred to Tuesday.

The Minority in Parliament on Friday pushed for the vote to be cast immediately but the Majority insisted the vote be deferred to Tuesday.

Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye ruled in favour of the Majority.

READ ALSO:

ADVERTISEMENT

Debating the appointment committee’s report on Friday, the Minority MPs said all the nominees apart from Madam Otiko Djaba should be approved because she was disrespectful and failed to do her national service as required by law.

The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said national service is “also a national obligation. She, in her answers, was forthright and was candid with the committee that ‘I have not done national service’. Therefore, can she work in the public service of Ghana and hold the high office of a minister of state?”

READ ALSO:

However, Suhum MP Frederick Opare-Ansah pointed out that the requirement of ministers is similar to that of parliamentarians and if parliamentarians were not requested to present a national service certificate before being cleared to contest as MPs, it would be of no use to request for a national service certificate from Ms Djaba.

Meanwhile, Ms Djaba has written to parliament saying she thought she was exempted from doing national service by law due to her age.Below is her full letter to parliament:P.O. Box CT8799CantonmentsAccra2nd February, 2017The ChairmanAppointments CommitteeParliament of GhanaParliament HouseACCRADear Sir,FURTHER EXPLANATION ON NON-PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEMEI am writing to clarify responses I gave in answer to a question posed to me about my national service during my appearance at the Appointments Committee, as part of the vetting processes to assume the office of Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.I wish to explain further that I did not undertake National Service upon completion of a course of study at the University of Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus, in 2009, because I was informed that persons who were over forty (40) years of age were exempt from national service.I completed UDS in 2009 at the age of 47, and consequently, was under the impression that I was exempt from national service.As a Ghanaian patriot, who has worked in the most inhospitable parts of Ghana like the Sissala District for over six years, and provided various services to my nation in many other fields of endeavour, it would be inconceivable that I would deliberately abstain serving my nation.I hope that this explanation would inform your decision in respect of my non-participation in the National Service Scheme upon completion of UDS in 2009.Yours faithfully,Otiko DjabaMinister-Designate, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT