MPs accuse Mahama of violating the law

Members of Parliament are accusing President John Mahama of appointing and swearing in members of the Council of State without recourse to Parliament.

The President swore in the eleven member Council of State chaired by Cecilia Johnson earlier this week.

But MPs insist the president violated the Standing Orders by failing to inform Parliament before appointing and swearing-in the Council of State members.

The issue was raised by the Sekondi MP Papa Owusu Ankoma who quoted Standing Orders 172 of the House which stated clearly that the president ought to have brought before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, persons he has appointed as Ministers and Council of State members.

Mr. Owusu Ankoma stated that the president was expected to have brought his nominees before Parliament, to be vetted and approved.

Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey reported that the issue attracted a lot of comments on the floor of Parliament.

The House agreed to form a committee led by the Speaker, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament as well as the leadership of Parliament, to meet with the president and find an amicable solution to the problem.