Prime News Ghana

No MP will be named minister in my govt - Nduom

By Jeffrey Owusu-Mensah
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Progressive People’s Party (PPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has stated that he will not appoint any member of parliament as a minister if he becomes president.

According to him, the work of a parliamentarian is very important and takes over 100 percent of one’s time same as a minister of state and must therefore not be given to one person adding that it also did not bode well for separation of powers.

Dr. Nduom who served as Energy Minister and Public Sector Reforms at different times in the erstwhile Kufuor government while also serving at the same time as a Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem recalled how bills and “bad” deals were rushed through parliamentary proceedings for approval, which is often done in the last days when parliament is about to rise.

Speaking TV3's New Day on Monday, he pointed to the CNTC loan and the STX Korea housing deal under the Kufuor and Atta Mills administrations respectively, explaining that, “the influence of the executive on the legislature is the reason why those things are happening so let’s learn from experience".

Dr Nduom also condemned the practice where both the General Secretary and Chairman of a governing party sit and participate in cabinet meetings.

National chairpersons and general secretaries of ruling parties have since the beginning of the fourth republic have been participating in cabinet meetings because there is the believe that the government's were born out of the political parties so they should take part in major decisions by government.

But according to the PPP leader, their involvements over the years have bad influence on such crucial meetings.

“There is something happening, and has been happening, which I will stop. Whether it is NDC or NPP they have been bringing their general secretaries and their chairmen to cabinet. It will stop. It will stop. Because that doesn’t belong at cabinet; and cabinet we are talking about a nation and not a political party. And some of those people when something comes they will say these ones let’s give to our people, that one let it go to our people", he explained.

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