We cannot approve your new ministers – Bagbin tells Akufo-Addo

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has taken the decision to suspend the consideration of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State nominated by President Akufo-Addo. This move comes in response to an interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor, which has rendered Parliament unable to sanction new ministers nominated by the President.

Bagbin’s decision follows a directive from the presidency, which issued a cease-and-desist letter to Parliament, instructing them to refrain from transmitting the Bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values for President Akufo-Addo’s assent. The presidency cited an ongoing interlocutory application at the Supreme Court as the basis for their decision.

In his official response, Bagbin reiterated Parliament’s inability to proceed with the approval of new ministers under similar circumstances, in adherence to the legal processes involved. This suspension underscores the importance of respecting the rule of law and due process within Ghana’s parliamentary system.

The “ongoing scenario poses a grave threat to our legislative authority and, by extension, the democratic principles we strive to uphold. The implications of such executive actions extend far beyond the immediate legislative items at hand. They erode the foundational checks and balances that our forebears painstakingly established to ensure a vibrant and functioning democracy.”

“The Parliament of Ghana will comply with the existing legal framework and reject the attempts by the Executive Secretary of the President, through his contemptuous letter, to instruct the Clerk to Parliament, an Officer of Parliament whose position is recognizably under the Constitution. We shall not cease and desist!” he added

“Be that as it may, Hon. Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General ( Suit No. J1/12/2024), which process was served on the 19th of March 2024, and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.

“Hon. Members, in light of this process, the House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the spirit of upholding the rule of law until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court.”