The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has described Parliament’s handling of the Oti Bless nomination saga as a joke.
After being vetted by Parliaments’ appointment committee, it emerged that the Deputy Minister for Local Government designate, John Oti Bless was part of the panel on Montie FM who threatened the lives of the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court justices.
The Nkwanta North MP subsequently apologised to the judiciary after intense pressure from Parliament.
Oti Bless’ apology on Friday followed a directive from the Speaker for deliberations over his nomination to be put on hold until he apologised for the comments he made.
“I wish to sincerely state that I am really sorry for everything that has happened. Let me use this opportunity to render an unqualified apology to the Chief Justice who is my mother and the entire Judiciary, judges, Parliament, good people of Ghana and my constituents,” he said in an interview with Eyewitness News host Richard Dela Sky.
Oti Bless stated that he had received advice from the Speaker of Parliament and the Majority leader, Alban Bagbin, prompting him to issue the public apology.
But speaking to Citi News’ Duke Opoku Mensah, the Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman said Parliament should simply reject Oti Bless because his comments show he lacks the conscience to be a Deputy Minister.
“This issue centres on the conscience of our members of Parliament. I think Parliament has no business approving the appointment of this gentleman.
Our members of Parliament should go back and search their conscience and think carefully about this because the comments that are attributed to him are very dangerous comments. I think the apology doesn’t matter. The person that is being appointed has to demonstrate a high level of accountability in terms of action. It is just a joke.”
Dr. Draman’s comment comes days after the President of Imani Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe called for the incarceration of Oti Bless, over derogatory comments he made about the Chief Justices and other justices of the Supreme Court.
According to him, Oti Bless has not shown remorse for his comments.
