NDC fires first shot

The Evening News says some of President Kufuor's nominees, in their eagerness to familiarise with their new offices to be, have been parading the corridors of the ministries.

However, the opposition (NDC), not wanting to be hoodwinked into accepting what they believe to be an illegality shrouded in diplomatic garb, have challenged the actions.

Last Friday, one Iddrisu Haruna of Tamale, who describes himself as "a citizen of Ghana", filed a writ at the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that the conduct of the President in authorising his men to exercise executive authority on his behalf was unlawful. The writ cites the Attorney-General as defendant.

According to the plaintiff, the President in authorising the nominees to exercise authority on his behalf when they had not been approved by parliament as ministers, was inconsistent with and in contravention of the letter and spirit of the constitution.

Accordingly, the plaintiff is contending that any nominee of the President who has been purporting to exercise executive authority of state in any ministry to which he has been designated by the President, cannot lawfully exercise the executive functions conferred on the President in that ministry of government.

He is also seeking a declaration that on the true and proper interpretation of the constitution, particularly Articles 58 (1) and (3) 76 (1) and (2), 76 (1), 80, 190(1) and 295(1) and (2) which say "no person who has been appointed a minister of state or an officer of government can be authorised by the President of Ghana to exercise the executive authority conferred on the President on his behalf.