Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has called out the Minority Leader in parliament following his claims of illegality in a caretaker Ministers’ role.
Kweku Baako revealed Haruna Iddrisu who was then former minister was asked to act as a Caretaker Minister by the Ex. President John Mahama administration.
The veteran journalist’s remarks follows concerns raised by the Tamale South MP that some former ministers still hold on to their ministerial positions even though their term of office has expired.
President Akufo-Addo earlier this week in line with Presidential Transition Act, 2012 (Act 845 ) relieved all his ministerial appointees, pending the appointment of new ones for his second term in office.
While Section 14 (1) of Act 845, states that all ministers, deputy ministers, presidential staffers, such as the Chief of Staff and the Executive Secretary to the President, and non-career Ambassadors and High Commissioners ceased to hold office when the President’s tenure ended on January 7, Section 14(2) of Act 845 allows the President to appoint a person to perform the functions of all those mentioned above for a specified period.
The move has been criticized by the Tamale South Legislator who described it as illegal asserting that the President has no right to make such a decision.
Haruna Iddrisu said on Joy Prime, “I have seen some former ministers still hold themselves about as if they are ministers. That is unlawful, that is illegal and unconstitutional. As we speak today, Ghana has no ministers”.
“The President got it wrong. Their mandate has elapsed and until they are nominated, go through vetting, secure approval of Parliament, they cannot hold themselves out as Ministers. So as far as we are concerned, there is nothing like an Acting Minister and the Supreme Court does not recognize such a position.” He cited.
However, in a Facebook post sighted by the Awake News, Mr Baako shared a letter from former President John Mahama appointing Mr Iddrisu to take “temporary charge of the Ministry of Communication until a substantive Minister is duly appointed.”
In the letter dated January 8, 2013, and captioned “Exercise of oversight responsibility”, the then President quoted Section 5 of the Presidential Transition Act, Act 845, 2012, as the basis for the directive.
“Following my swearing-in and inauguration on Monday 7, January 2013 as President of the Republic of Ghana, I hereby in accordance with section 5 of the presidential (Transitional) Act, Act 845 2012 appoint you to take the temporary charge of the Ministry of Communication..” a portion of the letter read.
Kweku Baako again posted a letter disclosing why the NDC Minority Caucus appeared to be worried about the Presidential directives and therefore quizzed “is there any mention of ACTING MINISTER in the communication?”.
Meanwhile, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Minister for Information; Alan John Kyerematen former Minister for Trade and Industry; Ken Ofori-Atta, former Finance Minister; Domini Nitiwul, former Minister of Defence; Ambrose Dery, former Minister for Interior; Albert Kan Dapaah, former National Security Minister; and Hajia Alima Mahama, former Local Government Minister have all been asked to act as caretaker ministers pending new appointments.
The former Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare will also temporarily serve in the same position.
See Abdul Malik Kweku Baako post below:
