The Minority caucus in Parliament has said that the speaker of parliament’s decision to suspend the approval of new ministers and deputy ministers of state was a step in the right direction.
Addressing journalists in parliament, Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the Speaker’s concern was legitimate, and as such, had their full backing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to conclude by saying that, the Right Honourable Speaker has made an important call. A call for Parliament to unite against the autocratic tendencies of our President and this government.
“We, in the NDC minority, are ready to protect the sanctity of the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. And we stand with the Speaker of Parliament in this. Let the President of Ghana and his government be aware that where this country is going is strange under his watch and the NDC Minority will not countenance it,” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Wednesday, March 20, suspended the approval of Akufo-Addo’s new ministerial nominees following their vetting which ended on March 12.
He cited an injunction against the process secured by South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, hence could not take place.
This he noted was similar to the presidency’s directive for the House to refrain from transmitting the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQI+ bill for assent due to an application for an interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court.
The letter signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Executive Secretary to the President, emphasized that it would be improper for Parliament to proceed with transmitting the bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action until the matters before the court are addressed.
READ ALSO: Parliament Cannot Approve Your New Ministers – Bagbin To Akufo-Addo
However, Dr Forson has described the presidency’s directive as a breach of the 1992 constitution.
He explained that the constitution provides two options to the President regarding a bill, which are either to assent to the bill or not.
However, the President’s action he said was maintaining a middle ground, stating it was strange and an alien position that is unknown to the Constitution.
“But I want to say that it is obvious that His Excellency the President has breached the constitution and we will advise ourselves. In the coming days, don’t be surprised that we’ll begin impeachment proceedings against the President,” he said.