Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has commended Speaker Alban Bagbin for suspending the consideration of the newly appointed ministers and ministers of state.
He described that as commendable, saying the speaker had protected the democracy of Ghana with this action.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Parliament suspended the consideration of the nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State by President Akufo-Addo.
This follows an interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by the MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
The Speaker argued that the case pending before the apex court makes it impossible for Parliament to vet and process the new ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo.
“Hon Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General ( Suit no. J1/12/2024) which process was served on the 19th of March 2024 and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.
“Hon. Members in the light of this process, the House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the ‘spirit of upholding the rule of law’ until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court,” he explained.
The directive of the Speaker comes after the presidency issued a letter to the House asking it to stop transmitting the anti-gay bill to the president for him to assent, considering two cases pending before the apex court.
The letter was addressed to Parliament and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The letter stressed 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.
But reacting to this, Dr. Apaak described the situation as a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
He opined that the letter from the president not only deviates from established democratic practices but also undermines the work of the legislature.
He further added that the directive from the president was unconstitutional and not supported by the statutory provisions that guide the work of parliament.
It is for this reason that he has commended the Speaker for the bold step he took in suspending the consideration of the ministers.
“RT. Hon. Speaker ASK BAGBIN must be highly commended for standing up for Parliament and our democracy,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
