It is illegal to appoint 'caretaker' ministers - Haruna Iddrisu to Akufo-Addo
He said there is nothing like a 'holding' minister
Jonas Danquah 
The leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has described as “unlawful'', President Akufo-Addo's appointment of some ministers from his past first term administration as ‘caretaker ministers’.
The Tamale South legislator cited a Supreme Court judgement to explained that in J. H. Mensah versus The Attorney General in 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that there was nothing like ‘acting’ or ‘holding’ minister.
“I have seen some former 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,” Haruna Iddrisu said on Joy Prime as quoted by GhanaWeb.
“The President got it wrong. Their mandate has elapsed and until they are nominated, go through vetting, secure approval of Parliament, they cannot hold themselves out as Ministers. So as far as we are concerned, there is nothing like an Acting Minister and the Supreme Court does not recognize such a position.”
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Haruna Iddrisu’s comments come at the back of President Akufo-Addo's appointment of some of his former ministers to maintain their respective positions until new appointments are made for his second term.
The action is in accordance with the Presidential Transition Act, 2012 (Act 845), to avoid gaps in running state affairs.
The former ministers who were asked to be ‘caretaker’ ministers include Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Minister of Information, Alan Kyerematen, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ken Ofori-Atta, former Minister of Finance; and Domini Nitiwul, former Minister of Defence.
The others are Ambrose Dery, former Interior Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, former National Security Minister and Hajia Alima Mahama, former Local Government Minister.
Eugene Arhin is also to act as Director of Communications at the presidency.
The ‘caretaker’ ministers, according to a GNA report, have been directed by the acting Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, not to take decisions involving policy issues.
