Asiedu Nketia, others appointed to Parliamentary Service Board

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has been appointed by Speaker Alban Babgin as a member of Parliament’s Service Board.

Johnson Asiedu Nketia’s appointment was announced by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Monday, March 29, 2021.

The MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu, former Majority leader Abraham Osei Adu, former MP for Wenchi West, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the Clerk to Parliament, and the Speaker who doubles as chairman constitute the six-member Service Board.

“After a long period of discussions, it has been agreed for appointments of the following persons: Honorable Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame and Majority Leader, also the Honorable Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South and the Minority Leader. The third person is Mr. Abraham Aidoo, a former MP and former Majority Leader, and Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, also a former MP and the current General Secretary of NDC,” the Speaker announced.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s special advisory committee had raised questions about Asiedu Nketia’s appointment onto the Parliamentary Service Board.

The committee said although the Speaker has the right to put him on the Board, his role as an executive of a political party is concerning.

Reacting to this, Mr. Bagbin referred to a similar case in the past, where the Chairman of the NPP’s Council of Elders was named on the Board.

“But I want to note that the former Parliamentary Service Board had Honorable Hackman Owusu-Agyeman as a member of the board and Hackman Owusu Agyeman later became the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” the Speaker said.

“That one was not an intrusion into the governance of Parliament by a political party. What is good for the gander is also good for the goose. Honorable members the board will be constituted and we will start our work.”

The Parliamentary Service Board is tasked with promoting the welfare of Members of Parliament and Staff of the Service.