Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed the office of the President to consult the house on the appointment of members of the Council of State. This was after he raised an issue that neither he nor Parliament has received any communication from the President prior to the release of some 11 appointees nominated to the Council of State.
This, he stated constitutes a breach of Articles 89(2) of the 1992 Constitution. Early this week, the Director of Communications at the Presidency released a statement detailing names of appointees to the Council.
They include former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, former Chief of the Defence Staff General J. B. Danquah and former Inspector General of Police Nana Owusu Nsiah among others.
However, before the commencement of public business in the House yesterday, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu indicated that the statement from the Communication Directorate is a Constitutional breach as no such consultation has been done with Parliament.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markins disagreed arguing that the Executive does not seek to undermine the authority of Parliament as is being insinuated.
After hearing from both sides, Speaker Alban Bagbin confirmed that the President did not consult him, as leader of the House on the appointments, and asked that the office does the appropriate thing.
