The Minority in Parliament has strongly condemned the Chief of Staff’s alleged creation of new appointments, which temporarily label ministers-designate awaiting parliamentary approval as ‘Representatives of the President.’
Expressing their disapproval, they highlighted the case of the minister-designate for health conducting an inspection tour of health facilities under the guise of being a minister, following what they deemed a misrepresented appointment by the Chief of Staff.
In a statement, the Minority clarified that the 1992 constitution does not support the creation of representatives of the President in Ministries of State.
They argued that the Chief of Staff, whose powers are derived from the President as outlined by the constitution, oversteps her boundaries by creating such positions.
They reiterated that according to Article 78(1) of the constitution, Ministers of State can only be appointed after the prior approval of Parliament, emphasising that Minister-designates are essentially nominees until this approval is granted. Therefore, they should not possess any ministerial authority or privilege.
The statement signed by Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and MP for Juaboso, pointed out that in the absence of a substantive appointment to a specific ministry, a minister appointed elsewhere may act as a ‘caretaker’ minister for the ministry.
They specified that Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, currently holds this role for the Ministry of Health, not Dr Bernard Okoe Boye.
The Minority emphasised that minister-designates have no authority to direct or implement policy changes within a ministry, nor do they have the power to summon CEOs or other heads of institutions.
They urged the Chief of Staff to revoke all such appointments and cautioned individuals from holding themselves out as Representatives of the President to designated Ministries.
Finally, they advised the public, particularly public sector workers, not to extend any privileges reserved for Ministers to such individuals.
Source: classfmonline.com
