The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, clashed with Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin during the vetting of Minister of Finance-designate, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Afenyo-Markin said that President John Dramani Mahama had failed to follow the required process in his first ministerial appointment nominations as outlined in the standing orders of the Parliament.
He explained that the communication to the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, notifying the House of President Mahama’s ministerial nominees should have been signed directly by the President, in accordance with Standing Order 65(1).
“Let me address a few concerns of the Minority caucus on the notification of Parliament of the nominees. Before we openly examine the individuals and their merit, we must address a procedural misstep that casts a shadow on the integrity of this process. As you may recall, the Secretary to the President purported to have been given the mandate by the president to sign a letter to us,” he stressed.
The lawmaker referenced the parliamentary standing orders, which state that in the absence of President Mahama, a communication sent to the House must bear the signature of the Vice President or a minister authorised by the president.
Reacting to this, Mahama Ayariga told Afenyo-Markin that he was in no position to direct President John Dramani Mahama on how to appoint his ministers.
He added that the Minority Leader could have his opinion but was expressing it at the wrong forum.
“For the Minority Leader to use this platform as a press conference to copiously try to denigrate the presidency and to sort of try to direct the presidency as to what to do, I think is not the best. For instance, you cannot be directing the president as to how and when he makes his nominations for ministerial appointments.
“The president did say that cabinet will be formed within a short period upon coming into office. But you have decided that it should have been from the date of the declaration of results. I mean, that is not the promise that was made by the president. You can have your opinion on the matter, but please, you can express it outside at the press conference,” he said.
He also pointed out that the rules of the House are not always correct, as evidenced by recent Supreme Court judgements that nullified some of these rules.
Afenyo-Markin, however, refuted the assertion that he was trying to undermine the presidency, adding that he had every right to make the comments he passed.
BAI/EK
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