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Exit of experienced MPs will affect parliament – Henry Quartey
The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central and Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has expressed dismay at the departure of experienced MPs from Ghana’s legislature.
Several seasoned lawmakers from both sides of the House have either announced their decision not to seek re-election after their current terms expire or lost in their parliamentary primaries, signalling an imminent exit from Parliament after the December polls.
The Ayawaso Central MP highlighted the potential impact of their departure on the country’s parliamentary practice. He specifically pointed out the significance of seasoned legislators, exemplifying the enduring presence and contributions of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in Parliament as a testament to their importance.
Henry Quartey emphasized that the wealth of experience and contributions of long-serving MPs like Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu have played a crucial role in the development of the country.
The departure of such seasoned individuals, according to Henry Quartey, poses a challenge to the continuity and effectiveness of parliamentary proceedings.
Asked if experienced MPs should be protected by their respective political parties on Face to Face on Citi TV, Henry Quartey said “Ordinarily, it would have been a good thing to do because of the rate of attrition in Parliament. MPs doing their first and second terms and leaving Parliament does not help the parliamentary practice and when you look at other jurisdictions, you will notice that some people have been there [in Parliament] for 30 years or more and when you look at the performance of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, it tells you that you learn on the job and that is what the country needs.”
“Having said that, the NPP believes that there should be competition and I want to commend the national executives for allowing a contest. It was decided at the national council that everyone should be allowed to contest and that nobody should impose a candidate on anybody because we are not in normal times and when you impose a candidate, we are likely to come to Parliament with some 60 or 70 MPs because the people will go and vote against the party’s choice or you have a lot of independent candidates emerging.
“But when the people are allowed to make their own choices, they are happy and so they will come on board with that energy and vote for that person and to campaign for that person,” the regional minister further told Umaru Sanda Amadu.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
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Mahama gives Chief Justice 10 days to respond to removal petitions
President John Mahama has given Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo 10 days to submit a preliminary response to three petitions demanding her removal from office.
The directive was contained in a letter signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President. The Chief Justice requested copies of the petitions on Thursday, March 27.
This come on the back of petitions submitted by three individuals on February 14 and March 17, 2025, alleging misconduct and abuse of power.
According to the letter, President Mahama had initially written to Doe Adjaho, Chairman of the Council of State, on March 24, 2025, forwarding the petitions for consultation, as required under Article 146(6) of the Constitution.
“Following receipt of these petitions, on 24th March 2025, His Excellency wrote to the Chairman of the Council of State forwarding the petitions and informing Council that, in accordance with the consultation process required under Article 146(6), he intends, as an initial step, to send the petitions to you for your preliminary comments or response. On 27th March 2025, His Excellency received responses from the Chairman of the Council of State consenting to this request. Copies of these letters are also attached,” an excerpt of the President’s letter to the Chief Justice read.
The Council of State consented to this process on March 27, 2025, after which the petitions were sent to the Chief Justice for her comments.
However, the President also raised concerns over a leaked letter from Chief Justice Torkonoo, dated March 27, 2025, which was circulated on social media before he had the chance to review it.
The law that surrounds the removal of the Chief Justice is enshrined in Article 146 of the Constitution.
Article 146 – Removal Of Justices Of Superior Courts And Chairmen Of Regional Tribunals
1) A Justice of the Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on ground of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of Body or mind.
(2) A Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal may only be removed in accordance with the procedure specified in this article.
(3) If the President receives a petition for the removal of a Justice of a Superior Court other than the Chief Justice or for the removal of the Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, he shall refer the petition to the Chief Justice, who shall determine whether there is a prima facie case.
(4) Where the Chief Justice decides that there is a prima facie case, he shall set up a committee consisting of three Justices of the Superior Courts or Chairmen of the Regional Tribunals or both, appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers, and who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice on the advice of the Council of State.
(5) The committee appointed under clause (4) of this article shall investigate the complaint and shall make its recommendations to the Chief Justice who shall forward them to the President.
(6) Where the petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice, the President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint a committee consisting of two Justices of the Supreme Court, one of whom shall be appointed chairman by the President, and three other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers.
(7) The committee appointed under clause (6) of this article shall inquire into the petition and recommend to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office.
(8) All proceedings under this article shall be held in camera, and the Justice or Chairman against whom the petition is made is entitled to be heard in his defence by himself or by a lawyer or other expert of his choice.
(9) The President shall, in each case, act in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.
(10) Where a petition has been referred to a committee under this article, the President may-
(a) in the case of the Chief Justice, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, by warrant signed by him, suspend the Chief Justice;
(b) in the case of any other Justice of a Superior Court or of a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Council, suspend that Justice or that Chairman of a Regional Tribunal.
(11) The President may, at any time, revoke a suspension under this article.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
