Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are in the process of filing a motion calling for a Vote of Censure on the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, for failing to comply with a resolution passed by Parliament regarding to the controversial no admission for the 499 students into the Ghana School of Law.
The Leadership of the NDC MPs are still gathering signatories to that effect. They are hoping to get one-third of Members of the House as the constitution demands, in order to push through their agenda, www.politicoghana.com understands.
The resolution passed by Parliament on October 29, 2021, following a motion moved by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had directed the Attorney-General to facilitate the admission of the 499 students into the Ghana School of Law.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin had prayed to the House to compel the General Legal Council (GLC) to admit all candidates who passed the entrance examination per the advertised rules governing the said exams.
However, the Attorney-General wrote to Parliament, saying the Legislature cannot direct the GLC on its admission processes by resolution.
In the Memorandum addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and which is yet to be filed, the Leadership of the NDC MPs wants the Speaker to call for a Vote of Censure on the Attorney-General.
The Memo in part reads “That this Honorable House passes a Vote of Censure on the Honorable Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of the following conduct: Refusal, without justifiable basis, to implement the resolution of this Honorable unanimously passed on October 29, that the General Legal Council admits into the Ghana School of Law 499 students who sat for and passed the entrance examination of the Ghana School of Law for the 2021/22 legal year in accordance with its own published grounds rules, impugning the image and integrity of this Honorable House through statements unbecoming of the holder of the office of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of this Republic”.
Vote of Censure
Article 82(1) of the 1992 Constitution states that “Parliament may, by a resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament, pass a vote of censure on a Minister of State.
Article 82(2) further states that “A motion for the resolution referred to in clause (1) of this article shall not be moved in Parliament unless –
- Seven days’ notice has been given of the motion; and
- The notice for the motion has been signed by not less than one-third of all the members of Parliament.
Article 82(3) also states that “The motion shall be debated in Parliament within fourteen days after the receipt by the Speaker of the notice for the motion.
Article 82(4) states that “A Minister of State in respect of whom a vote of censure is debated under clause (3) of this article is entitled, during the debate, to be heard in his defence.
Article 82(5) further states that “Where a vote of censure is passed against a Minister under this article, the President may, unless the Minister resigns his office, revoke his appointment as a Minister.
Article 82(6) states that “For the avoidance of doubt, this article applies to a Deputy Minister as it applies to a Minister of State.
