Dr Kingsley Nyarko, the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso
Dr Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson, to deliver at her ministry if she is cleared by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Hawa Koomson came under criticism for failing to impress during her vetting before the Appointments Committee of Parliament last week.
Many have argued that it is not that she did not only sound fluent but that she did not appear to know what was at stake at the Ministry she has been designated to head.
English proficiency
However, Dr Nyarko has a different opinion, arguing that it is only in Ghana that proficiency in the English language is equated to intelligence.
“If for some reasons you aren’t able to express yourself in the English language, or exhibit mastery over it, then you’re considered a persona non grata. This is very sad because proficiency in any language is not necessarily a measure of intelligence. Intelligence transcends that,” he told the Daily Statesman.
He stated that intelligence, in its basic meaning, refers to one’s ability to apply acquired knowledge and skill in solving problems.
“If you are eloquent in any language, but can’t solve life or societal problems, how useful is your eloquence?” he asked.
Dr Nyarko further explained that an intelligent person is not necessarily the eloquent, neither is it the one who can write so very well.
According to him, an intelligent person is one who has demonstrable ability in solving problems, making society better and improving the lot of others.
Intelligent Hawa
The Kwadaso MP described the Minister-designate as an intelligent person.
“Anytime I see Hon Hawa Koomson, I see intelligence in her; I see intelligence in her ability to produce results; an ability to accept new challenges and deliver positive outcomes. When she was appointed by President Akufo-Addo as the Minister for the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, she acquitted herself creditably. she excelled,” he said.
Dr Nyarko recalled how, when she was appointed Minister for Special Initiatives during President Akufo-Addo’s first term, she came to the University of Ghana and engaged some colleagues of his (Dr Nyarko) at the Business School who did survey (needs assessment) across the country and helped her to develop a framework that guided her to deliver.
“If this is not an act of intelligence, then tell me what it is? Look at the positive outcomes she produced at her ministry? The dams in the villages, ambulances for all constituencies and stadia, places of convenience, and the many other social interventions across the length and breadth of the country,” he said.
“Let us look at people’s record in the past, their resolve to transform and their propensity to deliver on their mandate. The Appointments Committee should appreciate the fact that she came to the vetting without an academic or professional knowledge in fishing, yet she demonstrated interests and commitment to a charge, that when given the opportunity, she will deliver,” he said.
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