Former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has thrown his weight behind calls for a constitutional review to reconsider the provision that permits Members of Parliament (MPs) to be appointed as Ministers of State.
His remarks come in the wake of recent advocacy by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Aaron Oquaye, who has called for a clearer demarcation between the functions of the executive and the legislature, arguing that such a move would bolster parliamentary oversight.
In an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, 1 May, Ayikoi Otoo expressed concern that the current arrangement undermines the effectiveness of Parliament.
He pointed out that MPs who assume ministerial roles often abandon their legislative duties in favour of executive responsibilities.
“Most of these people [MPs], once they’re made ministers, concentrate on their ministerial work. And they’re unable to serve Parliament to the extent that it is said that in all this, it is the Minority who would rather do the work of Parliament,” he stated.
He therefore called for a constitutional amendment that would allow the President to appoint all, or a majority, of ministers from outside the legislature.
“The Majority are ministers, and some are chasing contracts and doing all sorts of things, so they wake up in the morning and never go to Parliament.”
“So, the time has come for us to review this decision, and there are some sentiments that the President should be given the power either to appoint all his ministers from outside Parliament or that the majority of Ministers from Parliament should give way. This is the position,” Ayikoi Otoo added.
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