The New Patriotic Party Minority Caucus in Parliament has condemned the simultaneous absence of President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin from the country, citing a blatant violation of the 1992 Constitution.
A statement issued by Mr John Darko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame and the Legal Counsel of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, said the situation contravened Article 60 of the Constitution, which required the Speaker of Parliament to be sworn-in as Acting President when both the President and Vice President were unavailable.
“However, in this case, the Speaker was also outside the country, and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is currently under suspension,” the statement pointed out.
“The constitutional provisions on presidential succession are explicit: whenever both the President and the Vice President are absent from the country, the Speaker of Parliament must be sworn in to act as President.
“This interpretation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Asare v. Attorney General. The court held that no point should nation be left without a constitutionally designated acting head of state; in the absence of both the President and the Vice President, the Speaker must resume that role.
“It is a matter of public record that the Speaker of Parliament departed the jurisdiction on 8th May, 2025. The President fully aware of this fact and also aware of his Vice President had travelled earlier to seek medical attention abroad, nonetheless proceeded to leave the country without taking steps to ensure the Chief Justice administered the Oath to the Speaker to act as President, as mandated by the Constitution,” the statement added.
It described the situation as a “deliberate and calculated” act, accusing the government of treating the Constitution as “an inconvenience rather than a binding framework.”
The Minority warned that such constitutional infractions posed a serious threat to Ghana’s democratic foundation and governance.
“We will hold the President and his Vice accountable to their oath of office, which demands fidelity to the Constitution. Where necessary, we shall invoke the relevant provisions of law to ensure that constitutional breaches do not go unpunished,” the Minority served notice.
