The Acting Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has assured Ghanaians that the country’s government is functioning normally.
This assurance comes in response to concerns raised by the Minority Caucus in Parliament about a perceived constitutional power vacuum due to the absence of key government officials.
The Minority Caucus had expressed concerns about the absence of the President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament from the country.
According to the Minority, President John Dramani Mahama was attending the African Union Debt Conference in Togo, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was receiving medical treatment in the UK, and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin was also abroad.
The Minority cited Article 60 of the Constitution, arguing that in such instances, an Acting President must be sworn in—either the Speaker or, in their absence, the Chief Justice.
However, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe disagreed with the Minority’s assessment. In an interview on Channel One TV, Mr. Tamakloe emphasized that Ghana’s government architecture is designed to ensure continuity and stability.
He pointed out that the presence of an Acting Chief Justice ensures the judiciary’s functionality.
“I thought there were three – the Judiciary, the Executive, and the Legislature. Is the Acting CJ in Ghana? There is an Acting CJ. It is not personal. It is the office,” Tamakloe explained.
He further stated, “What I can say is that there is no power vacuum. It does appear that the President is in the country.
According to Mr. Tamakloe, the country’s institutions are designed to ensure continuity, even in the absence of key officials.