Former Majority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, a long-serving legislator, has publicly challenged the practice of appointing Members of Parliament directly into ministerial positions. He says this pattern raises concerns about how Parliament and executive functions are being blended, and could undermine the effectiveness of Ghana’s legislature.
Speaking in an interview, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu argued that many MPs currently see their role in Parliament as a stepping stone to becoming ministers rather than focusing primarily on their legislative duties. He explained that when the main goal for some MPs is to secure a ministerial appointment, it shifts priorities away from law-making and oversight.
He also emphasized that appointing ministers from Parliament should not be done for political convenience alone. Instead, he said ministerial roles should be based on professional competence and relevant expertise, ensuring that the people leading key government sectors have the right qualifications to perform effectively.
The former Majority Leader suggested that separating the roles of Parliament and the executive could strengthen governance. According to him, detaching ministerial positions from parliamentary membership would allow lawmakers to focus more fully on legislative work, while ministers appointed from outside Parliament could bring technical skills suited to their sectors.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s comments have sparked discussion in political circles about how best to balance Parliament’s role with the executive branch’s needs, especially under Ghana’s constitutional arrangement where the majority of ministers are typically appointed from among MPs.
