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The editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper has criticized the leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament for saying it is illegal for the president to appoint “interim ministers.”
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako said that Haruna Iddrisu, who is himself a former minister, was asked to act as interim minister for the former John Mahama administration.
The veteran journalist’s comment follows concerns raised by the Tamale South congressman that some former ministers still hold their ministerial positions even though their term has expired.
This was after President Akufo-Addo charged them to maintain their respective positions pending the appointment and subsequent approval of new ministers for their second term.
The President, through his acting Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, had explained that the directive is in line with the Presidential (Transition) Law of 2012 (Law 845).
While Section 14 (1) of Law 845 establishes that all ministers, vice ministers, presidential personnel, such as the Chief of Cabinet and the Executive Secretary of the President, and the Ambassadors and High Commissioners who are not career, ceased to occupy their positions when the President’s mandate ended on January 7, Section 14 (2) of Law 845 allows the President to designate a person to perform the functions of all those mentioned above for a specified period.
But citing the Supreme Court ruling in J. H Mensah against the 1997 Attorney General, the Tamale South deputy emphasized that there is nothing like “acting” or “holding” the minister.
In his interview in Joy Prime is on the record on Monday, Iddrisu argued that until future ministers of state go through constitutional processes they cannot be considered ministers, hence his decision to characterize the directive as illegal.
But in a Facebook post, Baako shared a letter from former President John Mahama appointing Iddrisu to take “the temporary post of the Communication Ministry until a substantive minister is duly appointed.”
In the letter of January 8, 2013, entitled “Exercise of supervisory responsibility,” the then president cited Section 5 of the Presidential Transition Law, Law 845 of 2012, as the basis for the directive.
“Upon my swearing in and taking office on Monday, January 7, 2013 as President of the Republic of Ghana, I hereby, in accordance with section 5 of the Presidential (Transition) Act, Act 845 of 2012, hereby appoint you for him to assume the temporary position of the Ministry of Communication … ”, part of the letter was read.
Meanwhile, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Minister of Information; Alan Kyerematen, former Minister of Commerce and Industry; Ken Ofori-Atta, former Minister of Finance and Domini Nitiwul; All former defense ministers were asked to act as interim ministers pending new appointments.
The other appointees include Ambrose Dery, former Home Secretary; Albert Kan Dapaah, former Minister of National Security; and Hajia Alima Mahama, a former local government minister.
The former chief of staff, Akosua Frema Opare, will also temporarily hold the same position.
