President Akufo-Addo on Monday, sworn in 24 new ministers after Parliament approved them at its emergency sitting last Friday.
Although minority MPs had walked out during the approval process, a 138 majority side approved the ministerial nominees by a voice vote.
“It was a pity that at the last moment, the minority which had participated in all the prior processes found it necessary to walk out of Parliament at the formal approval stage. We thank God that the walk-out was not fatal to the vote of approval,” Nana Akufo-Addo said at the swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House.
The new ministers at a point had been at the center of a row between the legislative House and the Presidency following President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to accept and sign the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in retribution, had previously decided not to allow the House approve the ministerial nominees, citing a court case.
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At the emergency sitting on Friday, Minority MPs still had concerns over the approval process, saying all of its members on the Appointments Committee had voted against the nominees during the consideration stages and that the government ought not to be adding more portfolios to its bloated size.
“Mr Speaker, the Minority does not support the nominations of these ministers, because of what the country has gone through and continues to go through, including economic crisis, food insecurity, “dumsor”, and reckless borrowing,” Minority leader Ato Forson said.
But in its defence, the government had argued that the approvals had to be an urgent undertaking by Parliament, as it could affect government business, although the Ministers worked anyway under their new designations before their current approval by the House.
