The government has rejected a proposal to prevent Members of Parliament from serving as ministers, insisting Ghana's hybrid system of governance remains relevant even as it backs a constitutional limit on the size of the executive.
The position, outlined in the government's response to the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), marks a departure from one of the committee's key recommendations aimed at separating the executive from the legislature.
Instead of imposing an outright ban, the government wants future presidents to have complete discretion in deciding whether ministers should be appointed from Parliament, outside Parliament or through a combination of both.
President to retain appointment powers
The Constitutional Review Committee had proposed amending Article 78(1) to prohibit MPs from becoming Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers or Regional Ministers. It also recommended preventing any MP who resigns from Parliament from taking up a ministerial appointment during the life of that Parliament.
Government, however, says such restrictions would unnecessarily limit the President's choices.
"The President should retain the discretion to appoint members of the Government whether from within or outside Parliament," the response states.
Officials argue that MPs bring practical legislative experience and a strong understanding of constituency needs to executive office, qualities that should not be discarded through constitutional reform.
The government also defended Ghana's governance model, describing it as "a uniquely Ghanaian arrangement that strikes a balance between strict presidentialism and the parliamentary system of government."
Rather than abolishing the link between Parliament and the executive, government is proposing the deletion of the constitutional requirement that a majority of ministers must come from Parliament.
If adopted, presidents would be free to appoint any number of ministers from Parliament, ranging from none to all, depending on the needs of the administration.
The response also makes it clear that MPs appointed as ministers would continue to retain their parliamentary seats.
Executive size to face new limit
While rejecting the recommendation on ministerial appointments, the government has embraced the idea of limiting the number of ministers.
The Constitutional Review Committee proposed capping ministers at three times the size of Cabinet, which would limit the total to 57, based on the constitutional maximum of 19 Cabinet Ministers.
Government agrees with the principle but prefers a slightly higher ceiling.
"The Government agrees that a ceiling on the total number of Ministers is desirable to prevent a bloated Executive arm of government," the document says.
Instead of 57 ministers, however, it is proposing a constitutional cap of 60.
Officials argue that the revised figure provides presidents with greater operational flexibility while still introducing a meaningful limit on the size of government.
The recommendations form part of the broader constitutional reform agenda expected to shape future amendments to Ghana's 1992 Constitution, with government seeking to balance institutional reforms with executive flexibility.
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