Retain Ministers Saga Due To Bad Advise - Minority Group

Accra, June 25 The minority group in parliament said today that the ''unnecessary saga'' parliament is facing over the issue of retained ministers is due to the ''incompetent and self-serving advice that the government is getting from certain quarters.'' It said in a statement that if these ministers are aware of their sacred and moral responsibility to uphold the principle of probity and accountability, then they should appear before the appointments committee and end this saga. ''Those hard-line fugitives from parliamentary scrutiny should remember this: the minority group will stand firm on this issue however long they mislead the government to procrastinate over obeying the constitution as re-affirmed by the supreme court.'' It said there is no constitutional basis for a procedural motion moved on February 14, exempting ministers from the first government of President Rawlings from parliamentary scrutiny. ''The supreme court has now upheld our position. there is no distinction between new and retained ministers in this matter. ''So for the sake of the unity, progress and harmony of Ghana, let these privileged 'retained ministers' just come and humbly submit themselves to parliamentary scrutiny as required by the constitution.'' The statement said parliamentary scrutiny will not amount to witch-hunting as Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney-general and minister of justice is reported to have said. The minority group have staged two walk-outs over the issue of retained ministers, with Mr J.H. Mensah, minority leader saying that there is ''no animal called a retained minister.'' They have gone to court over this issue with the court ruling that all ministerial nominees needed prior approval of parliament and that parliament could by its own procedures decide on the issue.