The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has proposed amendments to Article 78(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution to bar sitting Members of Parliament from being appointed as Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, or Regional Ministers.
Under the recommendation, any Member of Parliament who resigns during a parliamentary term would also remain ineligible for ministerial or regional appointments for the remainder of that term.
Presenting the Committee’s final report to President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House on Monday, CRC Chairman Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh explained that the amendment is intended to clearly separate the functions of the legislature from those of the executive.
“The Committee recommends an amendment to Article 78(1) to ensure that no Member of Parliament may be appointed a Minister of State, Deputy Minister, or Regional Minister,” Professor Prempeh stated.
He added that the proposed restriction would also apply to MPs who resign mid-term, noting that such individuals would remain disqualified from ministerial appointments only for the duration of the parliamentary term for which they were elected.
According to the Committee, the proposal is designed to promote accountability, reduce conflicts of interest, and strengthen governance by reinforcing the principle of separation of powers.
The recommendation is part of a broader package of constitutional reforms put forward by the CRC. Other proposals include the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), revisions to the presidential age limit, and changes to the length of the presidential term.
The Committee’s report is expected to inform national discussions on constitutional reform as the government considers measures to deepen Ghana’s democratic governance.
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