The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has reacted to the decision by the Speaker to suspend the approval of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees by President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, although the Speaker said he took the session based on an interlocutory injunction filed by Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor, the House is not inhibited from proceeding with the approval processes for ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees.
He issued a statement following the suspension of consideration for Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Wednesday, March 20.
The Speaker had argued that the injunction application rendered Parliament unable to approve the new ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo.
However, the Attorney-General in his response said there was no risk of prejudice to the authority of the Supreme Court if Parliament continued with the approval processes for the nominees.
The minister explained that the essence of Dafeamekpor’s suit was a challenge to the President’s power to relieve ministers and reassign them to different ministries.
“The substance of Mr Dafeamekpor’s suit is a challenge on the power of the President to relieve Ministers serving in his government of their portfolios and reassign them to different Ministries.”
“It has no bearing on the approval of persons newly nominated by the President as Ministers and Deputy Ministers and duly presented to Parliament for approval in accordance with articles 78(1) and 79 (1) of the constitution.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
