The Minority in Parliament has accused President John Mahama of violating Section 4(1) of the Presidential Office Act, which mandates that appointments to the Office of the President be made in consultation with the Council of State.
The minority argued that while the Council of State has not yet been constituted, the President has already made appointments without indicating that they are provisional, pending the council’s formation.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, January 22, Patrick Boamah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, called on the President to withdraw the appointment letters and address the issue.
“We believe that the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary was not made in accordance with the constitution. We are asking that the proper procedures be followed,” Mr. Boamah stated.
The minority also criticised the appointment of an envoy to the Sahel region, questioning Ghana’s need for such a position given its lack of historical ties with the Sahel states.
“Ghana is a non-aligned nation with respect to the Sahel nations, so we want to understand the rationale behind this foreign policy shift,” the MP said.
Consequently, the NPP MPs are demanding an explanation from the president on the issue perceived as a deviation from Ghana’s traditional foreign policy stance.