The Minority caucus in Parliament has accused President John Dramani Mahama of allegedly violating the parliamentary standing orders.

Raising concerns during the ministerial vetting on Monday, January 13, 2025, Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin said that President Mahama had failed to follow the required process as outlined in the standing orders of the House.

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 authorized by the President.

“May I refer us to Order 65(1) of our rules which provides that ‘communication from the President to the House shall be to the Speaker in writing signed by the President or in the absence of the President, by the Vice President or by a Minister authorized by the President,” he said.

The Effutu Member of Parliament, however, pointed out that the letter bearing the signature of the Secretary to the President breaches the law, emphasising that it could undermine the integrity of the entire vetting process.

“So, where did this letter from his Secretary to Parliament come from? President Mahama’s government has breached the standing orders of this house. He failed to write directly to Parliament and got his Secretary to write to us,” he concluded.

His concerns follow a letter notifying Parliament of President Mahama’s nomination of the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the Finance Minister Designate; Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Designate; and John Abdulai Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu, as the Minister of Energy Designate.

MAG/MA