Former Minister of Communications under the Rawlings regime, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah took his turn before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Wednesday.
A session that lasted almost 6 hours saw the former minister of information answering questions covering a variety of areas including trade, industry and his political career.
Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah was nominated by President Mahama in June as Trade Minister to replace Haruna Iddrisu, who would now move to the Ministry of Employment and Labor relations.
In a session described by most Ghanaians as the longest vetting ever, it appeared the onetime presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) dazzled the members of the committee on Wednesday.
In an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament and a member of the Parliamentary Appointment Committee (PAC), Titus Glover praised Dr Spio Garbrah’s performance.
He also explained the rationale behind the 6-hour vetting.
“He was the only nominee to be brought before us by His Excellency the President, so we needed to grill him and get the stuff out of him and I can say that personally, he had really excelled,” he said.
“We asked him various questions ranging from the very sector he was going to serve, the industrial sector, the poultry sector, the rice industry, port preparation and the work of CEPS, and his personal CV,” he added.
Assessing Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah’s response to the “team B” question, Titus Glover revealed that, “ He never found it easy, it was very difficult for him and he ate his humble pie and apologized.”
Mr Tituts Glover praised Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah’s experience at the Commonwealth and in the media industry saying he was the right person to serve the nation in that position as a Trade Minister.
