Parliament Cannot Proceed To Approve Your New Ministers-Bagbin Tells Akufo-Addo

Ghana’s Parliament yesterday March 20, 2024 was unable to proceed with processes for the considering of its Appointments committee report for the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees before adjourning sine die.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, told the lawmakers that the inability to consider the nominees followed an interlocutory injunction suit filed by the Member of Parliament for South Dayi at the Supreme Court to restrain him.

According to him, the restraint was to stop him as the Speaker of Parliament from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of persons submitted by the President until the provisions of the Constitution were satisfied.

He told the House that he received the process from the court tiled “Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney -General (suit no. J1/12/2024).

Addressing the House prior to adjourning sine die yesterday, Mr Bagbin informed the House that court process was served on March 19, 2024.

“The House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the spirit of upholding the rule of law until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court,” the Speaker said.

Communication to Parliament

On February 14 and 28, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in accordance with articles 71(1) AND 79(1) of the Constitution communicated to Parliament the nomination of persons for appointment as ministers of state and deputy ministers.

They are Abena Osei-Asare as Minister of State-designate for the Ministry of Finance; Dr Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Sylvester Tetteh as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information.

The others are Charles Acheampong as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation; Adelaid Ntim as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health; Alexander Akwasi Acquah as Deputy Minister -designate for the Ministry of Health; Vincent Ekow Assafuah as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government.

The rest are John Kobina Abbam Sanie as Deputy Minister-designate for Ministry of Energy; Collins Adomako Mensah as Deput Minister-designate for the Energy Ministry; Dr Prince Hamidu Armah as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Works and Housing; Prof. Festus Awuah Kwofie as the Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations; Akwasi Konadu as Deputy Minister-designate for the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry and Dr Alexander Ampaabeng as Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Finance.