The Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Abraham Ossei Aidoo has stated that the President owes nobody an explanation for sacking former Minister for National Security Francis Poku.
According to him, once the Constitution gives the President the power to hire and fire at his discretion, he owes nobody an explanation when he exercises his mandate.
"The President is under no obligation to give reasons to any body, and I stress he is under no obligation to give reasons to any body, it is his right and the Constitution backs him, period. The call in the media and some personal interactions by personalities who impressed upon the President to give reasons or reinstate the ex-minister is unnecessary and ' a waste of national efforts and time.
"He who hires can fire, and it is normal every where in the world," he declared.
Mr Ossei Aidoo was responding to a question as to whether the President ought to inform the House before he fires a Minister since those he nominates for ministerial appointments are approved by the House in conformity with the Constitution during a media interaction of the Parliamentary Press Corps with the Leadership of the House in Accra, yesterday.
The forum, which was organised by the Centre for Democratic Development is held at the beginning and ending of every session of parliamentary sitting to enable the press interact with the Leadership of the House.
First Deputy Minority Leader, Enoch Teye Mensah shared a similar view, saying that "once the President does not give reasons or discuss why he hires or appoints persons to be Ministers, there is no need for him to gives reasons when he fires either."
It will be recalled that on Saturday 12th January, most Ghanaians received the shocking news that Francis Poku, the Minister for National Security had been dismissed by the President, although no reason was adduced for the sack.
This, and a subsequent raid by armed security operatives at his Ridge residence, raised lots of concern in both the print and electronic media as well as the general populace, with calls by most discussants for some explanation for the man who has been credited with keeping the country and many countries in the West African sub region stable.
Other issues discussed at the interactive session included amendments to the Standing Orders of the House to make it more amenable to the needs of the present, security and offices for members, the Chieftaincy Bill as well as the need to review the Parliament Service Act which has been in practice since 1993 to give financial autonomy to Parliament as pertains with the Judiciary, which is also an arm of government.
Speaking on the review of the Parliamentary Services Act, the Majority Leader indicated that since Parliament is not a department under the Executive, it has to draw its own budget and send it directly to the President and not to the Ministry of Finance as has been the case.
He said, once the Legislature is treated as a department, it cannot properly exercise its oversight responsibility over the Executive because it lacks the resources to do so.
Source: MJFM
