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The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over recent appointments made by President John Dramani Mahama, citing alleged breaches of constitutional provisions. The group has called for urgent corrective measures to ensure compliance with the law.
A letter from the Office of the President, dated January 21, 2025, announced several new appointments, including Joyce Bawa Mogtari as Presidential Adviser and Special Aide to the President, Stanislav Xoese Dogbe as Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo as Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Seth Emmanuel Terkper as Presidential Adviser on the Economy, Professor Francis Dodoo as Presidential Adviser on the National Anti-Corruption Programme, and Larry Gbevlo-Lartey as Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States.
At a press conference held on January 22, the Minority argued that the appointments violated provisions of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463). They cited Section 4 of the Act, which mandates the President to consult the Council of State before appointing staff to the Office of the President.
The Minority Spokesperson, Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, stated, “The Council of State is not currently in place, and as such, the President’s appointments should have been accompanied by a statement clarifying that they were pending the Council’s composition.”
Mr Boamah urged the President to withdraw the appointments and reissue them in compliance with the law.
The Minority also expressed reservations about the appointment of Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo as Cabinet Secretary. Citing Article 76(3) of the Constitution, Mr Boamah explained that the role of the Cabinet Secretary must be explicitly defined and communicated separately.
“We do not oppose the nominee but insist that this appointment be made in strict adherence to the Constitution,” he said.
Another concern raised by the Minority was the appointment of Larry Gbevlo-Lartey as Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States. The group described this as a significant shift in Ghana’s foreign policy.
Mr Boamah questioned the country’s position regarding the Sahelian states, particularly given their exit from ECOWAS and the tensions between ECOWAS and those nations.
“Ghana has always maintained a non-aligned foreign policy. This sudden change needs clarification to ensure it does not jeopardise our relations with bilateral or multilateral partners,” he noted.
He further stressed the importance of consistency with ECOWAS protocols and cautioned against actions that could provoke backlash from international partners critical of military-led governments in the Sahel region
