Haruna Iddrisu told Joy News the Transition Act of Parliament cannot supersede the dictates of the constitution.
Making
reference to a JH Mensah Vrs Attorney General case, the Tamale South MP
said the "acts done before or on the 6th of January are lawful."
He
was responding to queries by members of the Transition team of the
incoming administration about new contracts and appointments being
dished out by the out-going administration.
The most eminent of the contract is the €18 million waste management contract signed with SCL Waste Management Limited.
Science
and Technology Minister Mahama Ayariga, who signed the contract said
the contract entered into with SCL is not to hinder the NPP government
but rather help it in dealing with e-waste.
The NPP officials however suspect the actions are nothing more than an unnecessary imposition on a new administration.
But
Haruna Iddrisu disagrees. He says the country is governed by laws,
adding that rather than questioning the power of the outgoing government
to undertake such actions, the country must rather look to deepening
consultations between the outgoing and incoming government.
"As
a country what we need to pride ourselves is that you are assured of a
peaceful, smooth transition of power from one political leadership to
another, a recognition of the continuous exercise of the legitimate
legal authority and mandate by the current administration and know that
an Act of Parliament cannot amend the constitution.
The
constitution clearly defines a four year mandate for the president and
acts that are done on or before the midnight of 6th January are lawful
and legitimate," he explained.
When he was
reminded of the new Transition Act which demands that outgoing
government and functionaries must submit handing over notes to
Parliament, Administrator General one month to the election, the Labour
Minister said: "handing over notes do not supersede nor oust the
constitutional provision in whom the authority of the state is vested."
He
said both leaders, outgoing and incoming must rather insist on
deepening consultations and not to question the right of the outgoing
government to take decisions.
"This country is governed by laws. We all should respect the constitution and respect the laws of Ghana," he said.
Haruna
Iddrisu however added that it is only fair for functionaries of the
outgoing government to the let the incoming government know some of the
contract and activities they are engaging in after losing the elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment