Parliament passes Civil Service Amendment Bill

Parliament on Monday passed the Civil Service amendment Law, a statute that enables the President to create and alter by executive instrument, a Ministry or Department.

The bill, which was processed under a certificate of urgency, received very little opposition by members. It amends the Civil Service Law 1993 (P.N.D.C.L327) and will impact directly or indirectly on all ministries.

Nana Akufo Addo, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, in an accompanying memoranda to the bill, said the president should be in a position, subject to the constitution, to establish, designate and realign ministries as he considers suitable for implementing the policies and programmes of his administration.

"Changes in ministries should in reality be viewed as a management activity rather than a legislative act."

Members expressed concern at the seemingly relegation of the legislature in certain aspects of law making and asked that all laws should be at least be tasted by the house before gaining viability.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Deputy Majority Leader, assured members that the house would never allow anybody to prevent it from playing its constitutional role.

He, however, advised that matters that have to do with executive or pure administrative functions need not pass through the house.