MPs accuse President of violating law on appointment of Council of State Members
Members of Parliament have accused President John Dramani Mahama of appointing and swearing-in members of the Council of State without recourse to Parliament.
The President swore-in the eleven member Council of State chaired by Madam Cecilia Johnson on Wednesday.
In Parliament on Friday, MPs insisted the president violated the Standing Orders by failing to
inform Parliament before appointing and swearing-in the Council of State
members.
The issue was first raised Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu
Ankoma who quoted Standing Orders 172 of the House which stated clearly
that the president ought to have brought before the Appointments
Committee of Parliament, persons he has appointed as Ministers and
Council of State members.
Papa Owusu Ankoma stated that the
president was expected to have brought his nominees before Parliament,
to be vetted and approved.
The issue drew a lot of comments on the floor of Parliament.
The
House agreed to form a committee led by the Speaker, the Chairman of
the Appointments Committee of Parliament as well as the leadership of
Parliament, to meet with the president and find an amicable solution to
the problem.
source:Myjoyonline