Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for a significant shift in Ghana’s governance structure, advocating for the separation of parliamentary duties from ministerial appointments.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Kwetey argued that the current system, which allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to simultaneously hold ministerial positions, undermines the true purpose of legislative service.
“Parliament should be a place for those genuinely committed to serving their constituents and shaping national laws, not a mere stepping stone to executive power,” Kwetey asserted.
He criticized what he described as a growing trend among political aspirants who enter Parliament with the primary aim of securing ministerial appointments, rather than focusing on their legislative responsibilities.
“Parliament is a means by which you want to serve your people, and so, that should be your number one thing,” he said. “Ministerial is a bonus, not the main objective.”
Kwetey called for a constitutional review to permanently separate the paths to legislative and executive power, ensuring that MPs are fully dedicated to their oversight and lawmaking roles.
“This business of mixing parliamentary and executive roles should be decoupled,” he emphasized. “You cannot use your MPship to deceive the people, only to abandon your legislative duties for a ministerial office.”
He also highlighted the need for a stronger, more independent Parliament that can effectively check the executive, rather than being absorbed into it.
“Parliament must become a true check on government,” Kwetey concluded, stressing that such a reform would restore public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
