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Pulling majority of ministers from parliament will
disturb Atta Mills - CDD
Accra, Jan. 24, Ghanadot/GNA - The Ghana
Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed
worry that the constitutional provision that required that
majority of ministers are chosen from Parliament could
create problems for the new administration.
Considering the representation of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC) in Parliament, the absence of even a few of
their members could split Parliament and this could affect
the government’s legislative agenda, Mr. Victor Brobbey,
Research Associate of CDD-Ghana, told GNA in Accra.
He said although the Constitution required that majority of
ministers should be selected from Parliament, government
must seriously consider its effects in subsequent
appointments.
Mr. Brobbey also pointed out that the decision by President
John Evans Atta Mills to merge the Ministry of Justice and
Attorney General contravened his manifesto.
He said President Atta Mills in his campaign promised to
split the two portfolios and therefore asked why he had
maintained what the previous administration did.
Article 88 (i) and (ii) of the 1992 Constitution state that
“There shall be an Attorney-General of Ghana who shall be a
Minister of State and the principal legal adviser to the
Government.
“The Attorney-General shall discharge such other duties of a
legal nature as may be referred or assigned to him by the
President, or imposed on him by this Constitution or any
other law.”
The Research Associate lauded President Mills for fulfilling
his pledge to include more women in his government, saying;
“The country has many educated and capable women who can
handle the task”.
President Atta Mills’ first list of ministerial nominees
released on Thursday listed 10 names, half of whom were
women. One of the five nominees for regional ministers is
also a woman.
Mr Brobbey expressed confidence in the nominees, but said it
was too early to make any predictions on how the new
administration would perform under them.
He also asked President Mills to take time in making his
appointments, but warned that too much time could lead to
constitutional issues.
The nominees are Mr. Mike Hammah, Ministry of Transport, Mr.
Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Ministry of Education, Ms. Hannah Tetteh,
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr. Oteng Adjei, Ministry of
Energy and Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, Ministry of Justice and
Attorney-General.
The others are Ms. Akua Dansua Ministry of Women and
Children’s Affairs, Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, Ministry of
Tourism,Mr. Collins Dauda, Ministry of Lands and Natural
Resources, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communications
and Ms. Shirley Ayitey, Ministry of Environment,Science and
Technology.
The nominated Regional Ministers are Mr Mahmood Khalid Upper
West,Mr Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo, Nii Armah
Ashitey,Greater Accra Region, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern
region and Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe for the Central Region.
GNA
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