Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has questioned the constitutionality behind the sacking of Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

Mr Adu Boahen was relieved of his duties on Monday by President Akufo-Addo following his alleged involvement in some corruption-related activities revealed in an exposé by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa  Akufo-Addo, has terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect.

“After being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé, “Galamsey Economy,” the President spoke to Mr Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations,” a press release from the Presidency on November 14 read.

However, according to the North Tongu legislator, the President was not in the country when the statement was released, therefore he could not have assented to the Minister’s dismissal or had the authority to direct the termination of Mr Adu Boahen’s appointment.

He argued that on Monday, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was acting as the President in the stead of Nana Akufo-Addo, thus should have been referenced as the authority directing the dismissal of Mr Adu Boahen.

“From my unimpeachable tracking of President Akufo-Addo; he left Ghana yesterday (Sunday, 13/11/2022) on a private visit to London aboard British Airways.”

“Considering the constitutional provision under Article 60, which has been further anchored by a Supreme Court pronouncement to the effect that whenever the President is absent from Ghana, the Vice President performs the functions of the President until the President returns, shouldn’t Acting President Bawumia be the one to fire the disgraced Charles Adu Boahen?”

“Can we be certain that President Akufo-Addo’s purported dismissal of Mr. Adu Boahen today, which is expected to take “immediate effect” per a presidential statement dated November 14, 2022, meets Ghana’s constitutional requirement?” he quizzed.

Article 60(8) of the 1992 Constitution states that “whenever the President is absent from Ghana or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the Vice-President shall perform the functions of the President until the President returns or is able to perform his functions.”

Reacting to Mr Ablakwa’s concerns, private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini has explained that the president’s absence from the country does not automatically bar him from performing his presidential functions.

“The President is not in Ghana, but that does not mean he is incapable of performing his functions while he is away. Obviously, he would have given instructions that this is what ought to be done, and when you are acting, you cannot take such a decision without reference to the president,” he is quoted by MyJoyOnline.com to have said.

President Akufo-Addo, who left Ghana last Sunday for a two-day private visit to the United Kingdom, will touch down today, Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

On the other hand, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has distanced himself from the allegations levelled against the former Minister for State at the Finance Ministry.

Per a post by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, “Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Office of the President, has revealed to Tiger Eye that the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, needs just USD200,000 token as an appearance fee and some positions by an investor for the Vice President’s siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.”

Refuting his alleged involvement, the Vice President said, “I am not aware of any such meeting held by Minister Adu Boahen or a supposed “appearance fee.” My most cherished asset in life is my integrity, and I will not allow anyone to use my name to engage in corrupt activities.”

Source: The Independent Ghana|