Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed concerns about Members of Parliament concurrently serving as ministers, citing potential drawbacks in the current system.
Criticism has been mounting against MPs who dual-hat as ministers, with detractors arguing that this can lead to a neglect of their parliamentary duties, thereby affecting their ability to adequately represent their constituents.
The Effutu MP, while commending the performance of the 8th Parliament in terms of oversight and assertiveness, acknowledged the considerable workload faced by MPs.
He has thus called for a potential constitutional review which will ensure the separation of powers to enhance the efficacy of the executive branch.
He believes that the appointment of non-MP ministers by the president could streamline governance processes.
“I am of the opinion that Members of Parliament should not simultaneously serve as ministers. This dual role can introduce inefficiencies in government operations. A constitutional revision could empower the president to appoint ministers outside of parliament, allowing MPs to focus solely on their legislative duties,” he said.
Selection of Ministers
Addressing the current practice where presidents are required to select over half of their ministers from parliament, Afenyo-Markin emphasized that such a system could hinder ministers from fully engaging in legislative responsibilities due to their executive duties.
“I have publicly raised this issue before, and my stance remains unchanged”, he stated
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
