The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has chastised President Akufo-Addo for what he perceived as the President’s repeated failure to comply with the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).
The North Tongu lawmaker, in a scathing critique, bemoaned what he deemed as the trend of President Akufo-Addo’s continuous failure to submit the required Annual Report to Parliament within the stipulated timeframe, as mandated by Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).
“A formal search in Parliament conducted today the 9th of April, 2024 indicates that President Akufo-Addo has still not complied with Act 463 when legally, he should have submitted the 2023 Annual Report by the end of March”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP North Tongu
According to Honorable Ablakwa, under Act 463, it is obligatory for every sitting President to present an Annual Report to Parliament within three months following the conclusion of each financial year.
He stated that the report serves as a crucial tool for parliamentary oversight, providing transparency regarding the number of presidential staffers employed at the presidency, their respective ranks, and other personnel attached to the office.
Furthermore, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs strongly posited that the absence of the 2023 Annual Report, which should have been submitted by the end of March, underscores a troubling pattern of non-compliance by President Akufo-Addo.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Education and Information under the erstwhile Mills and Mahama’s administration expressed deep concern over what in his view is the President’s repeated breaches of Act 463, highlighting the detrimental impact on parliamentary oversight and the pursuit of financial accountability.
He emphasized that the failure on the part of President Akufo-Addo to submit the Annual Report obstructs the lawful mandate of Parliament and further undermines the legislative efforts to ensure transparency in governance.
Call for Accountability and Leadership
Moreover, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stressed that such disregard for legal obligations cannot be tolerated, especially from the highest office of the country.
He underscored the significance of accountability and transparency in democratic governance, asserting that Ghana deserves better from President Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party administration.
The North Tongu lawmaker thus called on President Akufo-Addo to promptly submit what he deemed as the overdue Annual Report to Parliament to allow Parliament to discharge its oversight responsibilities.
He urged fellow lawmakers and citizens alike to hold President Akufo-Addo accountable for not upholding the rule of law and fulfilling his constitutional obligations to the people of Ghana.
The Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa concluded his remarks by stressing that the failure of President Akufo-Addo to comply with Act 463 undermines the principles of accountability and transparency upon which Ghana’s democracy is built.
It is instructive to note that the Presidential Office Act of 1993, Act 436 mandates every siting President to within three months after the end of each financial year submit to Parliament an annual report containing the number of presidential staff employed at the Office of the President, the rank or grade of such staff and employees in the other public services assigned to the Office.
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