The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has proposed sweeping changes to Ghana’s ministerial appointments, recommending that no sitting Member of Parliament should be appointed as a minister.
Presenting the Committee’s final report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, Chair of the Committee, Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, said the proposal is aimed at clearly separating the legislature from the executive to strengthen accountability and parliamentary oversight.
Under the recommendation, Members of Parliament would be barred from being appointed as Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, or Regional Ministers. The Committee further proposes that even MPs who resign their seats should remain ineligible for ministerial appointment within the same parliamentary term.
“The Committee recommends an amendment to Article 78(1) to provide that no member of Parliament may be appointed a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister or Regional Minister,” Prof. Prempeh stated.
In addition, the CRC is seeking to significantly reduce the size of government by placing a firm cap on the number of ministers.
The total number of Ministers of State, including Deputy and Regional Ministers, should not exceed 57, based on the current constitutional limit of 19 Cabinet Ministers.
“This means the total number of Ministers of State, including Deputy Ministers and Regional Ministers, shall not exceed 57,” Prof. Prempeh explained, adding that the Committee also recommends scrapping the appointment of Deputy Regional Ministers altogether.
However, the Committee allows limited flexibility, proposing that a President who wishes to exceed the cap must justify the decision in writing and obtain prior approval from Parliament by a simple majority.
The CRC believes the reforms will reduce executive dominance, promote efficiency, and deepen Ghana’s democratic governance system.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
