The formation of a lean government as promised by the then candidate John Dramani Mahama is on course, as he has so far named 25 potential ministers, out of the 60 he promised Ghanaians in the heat of the campaign. This means he has 35 more ministers and deputies to be appointed.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025 Jubilee House announced the nomination of nine sector ministers and three regional ministers, bringing the total ministerial appointments to 25.
It would be recalled that last week three sector ministers were announced, who have already been vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Early this week, ten out of the 16 regional ministers were announced and yesterday three were added, alongside nine sector ministers.
APPOINTMENTS
The statement announcing the nominations said, “The President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has submitted the names of the underlisted to Parliament, through the Speaker, to serve as regional and sector ministers.”
The sector ministers include Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP, Adaklu, Ministry of Roads and Highways; Eric Opoku, MP, Asunafo South, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, MP,Krowor, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Abla DzifaGomashie, MP, Ketu South, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
The rest are Emelia Arthur, MP, Shama, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture; George Opare-Addo, National Youth Organiser of the NDC, Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment; Haruna Iddrisu, MP, Tamale South, Ministry of Education; Ahmed Ibrahim MP, Banda, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, MP, Techiman North, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
For the regional ministers, Wilbert Petty Brentum for Western North region; Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere for Central region and Joseph Nelson for Western region.
ARTICLE 78
While President Mahama moves towards the 60 Ministers mark, he is mandated by the 1992 constitution to appoint the majority of the ministers from among members of parliament.
Article 78(1) of the constitution of Ghana mandates him to appoint the majority of his ministers from Parliament.
The said Article states, “Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament.”
Since the Constitution did not place a percentage to define the number to be appointed, a president uses his discretion to decide the majority.
Relating to the 60 ministers pledge, President Mahama is mandated by the dictates of Article 78(1) to appoint at least 31 MPs to make up the number.
Out of the 25 ministerial appointments, 12 are MPs of the 9th Parliament. Against this background, it is expected that at least 19 MPs would be appointed from the outstanding 35 in order not to violate the provision of Article 78(1) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.
However, in the event that President Mahama chooses to appoint the remaining 35 ministers from among the MPs, it would bring the total MPs appointed to 47, out of the 188 members.
FACTOR
It is trite knowledge that one of the main appetites for contesting a parliamentary seat among most politicians is to find favour with the president for a ministerial position, in the event that the party wins the presidential election.
