The presidency has asked ministers of state to desist from publicly announcing policy initiatives or programmes without first obtaining Cabinet approval.
The directive, given in a circular dated Monday, October 27, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, emphasized that non-compliance constitutes a breach of constitutional protocol and undermines the principle of collective government responsibility.
According to the circular, the Cabinet had observed a “growing practice” in which some ministers publicly announce initiatives “purportedly on behalf of Government” before they have been properly discussed, reviewed, or approved.
“Cabinet wishes to remind all ministers that, in accordance with established governance protocols and the collective responsibility principle enshrined in the Constitution, no public policy, programme, or major initiative shall be considered a policy of Government unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet,” the statement noted.
To ensure compliance, ministers have been directed to submit all proposed policies, programmes, and legislative initiatives to the Cabinet Secretariat through the Chief Director of their respective ministries for formal inclusion on the Cabinet agenda.
The directive, according to Professor Danso-Boafo, seeks to safeguard policy coherence, uphold collective Cabinet responsibility, and ensure that all government communications reflect the unified and approved position of the Administration.
He cautioned that any public statement or initiative undertaken outside this established process “shall not be deemed to represent official Government policy,” and urged all Ministers to refrain from announcing or implementing any policy lacking explicit Cabinet approval.
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