Ministers Who Are MPs Neglect Parliamentary Duties – Ayikoi Otoo Advocates Constitutional Reform

Former Attorney General Nii Ayikoi Otoo has endorsed calls for constitutional reforms to separate the roles of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers of State.

His remarks follow recent advocacy by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, for a clearer separation between the executive and legislative arms of government to improve parliamentary oversight.

In an interview on Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Ayikoi Otoo argued that MPs who are appointed as ministers often abandon their legislative responsibilities in favor of their executive roles.

“Once appointed as ministers, many MPs shift focus entirely to their ministerial duties, leaving a vacuum in parliamentary participation. Often, it is the Minority that ends up carrying out the bulk of Parliament’s work,” he noted.

He criticized the current system for undermining Parliament’s effectiveness and proposed a constitutional amendment that would permit the President to appoint ministers predominantly from outside Parliament.

“The Majority MPs, many of whom are also ministers, are preoccupied with contracts and other executive matters, often missing parliamentary sessions. It’s time to revisit the current arrangement. The President should be allowed to either appoint all ministers from outside Parliament or ensure that only a minority come from the legislature,” he proposed.