Bagbin Suspends Approval Of Nominated Ministers
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has obstructed the vetting and approval of President Akufo-Addo’s nominated Ministers citing a legal action.
He announced this to the House on March 20, 2024, while concluding his dissatisfaction towards the Executive’s response to the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.
He told the House Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, served the House with an injunction motion 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 the 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.”
The Speaker’s action is considered retaliation against the President for declining to accept the Anti-gay bill for assent.
On February 14, 2024, President Akufo-Addo named 21 nominees for various Ministerial positions.
The Ministers included Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; and Darkoa Newman, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
They also include Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health; Titus Glover, Minister-designate for the Greater Accra Region; Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information; Daniel Machator, Minister-designate for the Oti Region; Dr Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Sylvester Tetteh, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information; Charles Acheampong, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation; Adelaide Ntim, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health; and Alexander Akwasi Acquah Deputy Minister-designate for the Health Ministry.
The rest are Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; John Kobina Sanie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Energy Ministry; Collins Adomako Mensah, Deputy Minister-designate at the Energy Ministry; Dr Prince Hamidu Armah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Works and Housing Ministry; Kingsley Nyarko, Deputy Minister-designate for the Education Ministry; Festus Awuah Kwofie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Employment and Labour Ministry; Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; and Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Development.
