Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, is calling for a constitutional amendment to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from being appointed as ministers of state.
According to him, the current arrangement undermines effective governance, weakens parliamentary oversight, and compromises the integrity of the legislature.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Mr Mubarak announced his intention to sponsor a bill that would end the practice of MPs holding dual roles in both the legislature and the executive.
“I’m strongly of the view that the time has come for us to even have some changes in the Constitution where the president is not required to appoint the majority of his ministers from Parliament. It is problematic. There’s got to be clarity in the separation of powers,” he said.
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Mr Mubarak criticised the current system, arguing that many parliamentary aspirants enter politics not to legislate or advance development, but with the expectation of being appointed as ministers if their party wins power.
“A lot of MPs or persons struggle to get into Parliament not because they understand the work of legislation or want to pass good laws, but because they hope their party will be in government and they’ll be appointed as ministers. That mindset needs to end – an MP should just be an MP,” he added.
The former MP also took issue with legislators serving on the boards of state institutions, warning that such appointments compromise their ability to conduct impartial oversight.
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“MPs are supposed to provide oversight, but say you are the MP for Ladadekotopon and you sit on the NHIS board, or on GIFEC or any other board—when issues relating to that institution arise, you’d struggle to be objective.”
He stressed that the practice of MPs doubling as ministers or board members has outlived its relevance and must be addressed as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
“We’ve created a situation that is no longer in the national interest. I hope that with the constitutional review, this will be addressed and, hopefully, in the next Parliament, we will no longer have the headache of MPs serving as ministers. It’s not in the best interest of the country.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
