Parliament can’t fire non-performing ministers – Minority Leader

GNA – Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader in
Parliament, on Wednesday said the practice of reshuffling non-performing
ministers by the President enfeebled parliament’s control over the
executive.
   He said parliament was constrained to remove such non-performing
ministers from office since the convention had been that instead of firing
them they were rather reassigned.
   The Minority Leader was contributing to a motion on the approval of two
Deputy Ministers designates Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister Designate for
Water Resources, Works and Housing and Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy
Minister Designate for Northern Region.
   He said article 78 Section "1" of the 1992 Constitution prescribed that
anyone, who is qualified to be elected as a member of parliament is eligible
to be a Minister.
   Papa Owusu-Ankomah, member for Sekondi in a rebuttal, disagreed with
the Minority Leader and said Parliament had the mandate to cause the removal
of non-performing ministers.
   In his explanation, he asked whether parliament would approve a person
found not to be fit for a ministerial position.
   Papa Owusu-Ankomah further argued that what the constitution prescribed
was legitimacy but not mandatory in the appointment of ministers adding that
parliament could be constrained in a way but there was a way out.
   He said if that was the case why parliament vetted them and added that
there were clauses in the constitution that took care of this anomaly.
   Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Second Deputy Speaker, said the concern was a
legitimate one and would be considered.
   Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, said it was only the
Supreme Court that could interpret the issues satisfactorily.
   She asked whether if a person who could not read and write English,
would qualify as a minister.
   The Minority Leader in an answer said the constitution did not frown on
such persons becoming ministers adding they could become ministers without
hindrance.
   On housing, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed worry over how government
would acquire enough land to execute the 600 thousand housing units promised
Ghanaians.
   He said the first phase of 400 thousand units alone was a whole
community that could stand on its own.
   Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Member of Parliament for Bantama said
government must do all in its power to complete the affordable housing
project started by the previous government.
   She said Ghanaians must not trivialize water shortage adding that good
water supply was life.
   Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural
Development said, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister designate, Mr San
Asabigi must assist his Minister to put the necessary mechanism in place to
avoid conflicts in the region.
   He said the humility, hard work and diligence of Mr Asabigi would
propel him to success in his new appointment.

GNA