The Acting Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has pushed back against assertions by the Minority Caucus in Parliament that Ghana is facing a constitutional power vacuum, following the simultaneous absence of the President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament from the country.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, May 13, Tamakloe downplayed the concerns, insisting that the core functions of government remain uninterrupted despite the absences.
“There is no power vacuum,” he stated. “Ghana’s governance system is built on three separate arms – the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary – each with its own independent mandate. The acting Chief Justice is in the country, and the judiciary continues to function as required.”
Tamakloe’s remarks were in response to a statement issued by the Minority on Monday, May 12, 2025, which argued that Ghana’s leadership structure had been compromised. The statement highlighted that President John Dramani Mahama was in Togo for the African Union Debt Conference, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom, and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin was also out of the country.
Citing Article 60 of the 1992 Constitution, the Minority insisted that in the absence of the President and Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament or the Chief Justice must be sworn in as Acting President. However, the current Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, remains under suspension, raising further constitutional concerns.
Tamakloe, however, rejected this interpretation, arguing that institutional continuity remains intact. “It is not about individuals. It is about the office,” he said, emphasizing that the acting Chief Justice is in place to maintain the judicial arm of government.
While the Minority contends that this situation represents a breach of constitutional order, Tamakloe’s response reflects the government’s position that the absence of key officials does not automatically equate to a power vacuum, as the structures of governance remain operational.
The debate underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling administration and the opposition, with both sides trading accusations over the interpretation of constitutional provisions governing executive power.
