Caretaker ministers not illegal – Oppong-Nkrumah fights back

**Former Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah is convinced the President did no wrong in appointing “caretaker ministers.”**

The former Information Minister has parried the claim that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was wrong in appointing “caretaker ministers.”

The President has directed four of his former appointees as caretaker ministers. They are Ken Ofori Atta, ex-Finance Minister, Alan Kyerematen the ex-Trades Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, the former Local Government Minister, and former Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

President Akufo-Addo was sworn-in on January 07, 2021, for a renewed term of four years.

But the President’s directive has courted the displeasure of the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) who has described it as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

Haruna Iddrisu said the President’s action frowns upon the decision of the Supreme Court in the famous case of J.H Mensah vs Attorney-General.

The apex court, in this case, said the term of ministers automatically ends with the President and Vice-President of the Republic, ending months-long debate about the possibility of an extended-term for ministers.

“I have seen some ministers still hold themselves about as if they are Ministers. That is unlawful, that is illegal and unconstitutional. As we speak today, Ghana has no Ministers,” Mr Iddrisu said.

But Mr Oppong-Nkrumah who is one of the caretaker ministers said the President did no wrong in appointing them.

“The Presidential Transition Act was passed in 2012. Section 14(5) is a new provision that empowers a new President to do new things that were previously illegal,” he Tweeted on Monday.

Read excerpts of the Act below: