The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) is proposing that governments must cease the practice of allowing party officials to sit in Cabinet meetings.
The CDD is therefore, calling for a clear distinction between serious government business and party matters.
The Executive Director of the CDD, Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi made this call in an interview with Citi News.
This follows a proposal made by the governing National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) General Secretary; Johnson Asiedu Nketia that government should consider using the money being saved in the Heritage Fund for future generations.
He defended his proposal saying, it is to strengthen the economy because it does not make economic sense to keep money in an offshore account when government is busily seeking foreign aid to support its economy.
It is reported that Mr. Nketia, has been attending cabinet meetings but Professor Gyima Boadi believes if there were clear distinctions, such major proposals would not come from a party executive.
He noted that it is imperative for the country “to get away from this evolving culture and practice in government.”
According to him, the practice should be abhorred and Ghana governments should “leave political parties executives to be political party executives and leave the government to run as a government that we the people of Ghana have constituted.”
CDD’s Executive Director pointed out that Ghanaians “vote a government into office but we do not vote a political party into office.”
Ghana’s Cabinet is the responsible body which assists the President in the determination of general policy of the government.
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana stipulates that the Cabinet must consist of the President, the Vice-President and not more than 19 Ministers of state.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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