NDC’s Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and Lawyer Mahama Ayariga has stated that the president, H.E Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo’s suspension of the Upper West Regional Minister is unconstitutional.
According to him, the President can transfer, reshuffle and dismiss any minister for acts seen as unacceptable according to the constitution. There is no provision in the constitution that allows the president to suspend any minister for any form of misconduct.
“The constitution that allows the President the powers to appoint ministers, does not give him the powers to suspend. When you look at the constitutional provision for appointment it spells it so clearly. The president took a wrong decision in my opinion” He stated.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Morning show on Monday 5th February, the Member of Parliament stated that the minister should not have been suspended before investigations are carried out. He stated that suspension in itself is punishment and is a form of embarrassment and disgrace.
“Unfortunately the president did not state the constitutional provisions under which he carried out the suspension. Article 81 of the constitution talks about procedures for a minister’s appointment and punishment. This is so clear. There can also be a vote against a minister by parliamentarians” The Bawku central member of Parliament stated.
Mahama Ayariga further stated that he does not have time to test this matter in court but urged the suspended Upper West Minister Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan to test the law in court if he is interested.
Suspension
A statement issued Thursday, 1st February,2018 and signed by the Director of Communications at the Flagstaff House, Eugene Arhin, said “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has suspended with immediate effect, from office, the Minister of the Upper West Region, Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan, pending the outcome of investigations into the unfortunate incidents that occurred at the premises of the Upper West Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Wa, on Wednesday, 31st January, 2018.”
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Amidu Ishaq, has subsequently been asked to act as interim regional minister.
“President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land,” the statement added.
Daniel Koranteng Kwagyiri|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
