Vote of censure: Ofori-Atta’s fate to be decided today

The fate of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to be decided today, Thursday, November 10, 2022, by Parliament.

This follows a vote of censure motion by the Minority in Parliament demanding the removal of the Minister on the grounds of gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy.

A vote of censure is an elaborate legislative process through which MPs can remove a Ministerial or Deputy Ministerial appointee from office. The vote requires two-thirds of MPs to be able to ratify it by a secret ballot.

Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 107 of Parliament’s Rules cater for the issue.

Article 82 – Vote Of Censure

(1) Parliament may pass a vote of censure on a Minister of State by a resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament.

(2) A motion for the resolution referred to in clause (1) of this article shall not be moved in Parliament unless—

(a) seven days’ notice has been given of the motion, and

(b) the notice for the motion has been signed by not less than one-third of all the members of Parliament;

(3) The motion shall be debated in Parliament within fourteen days after the receipt by the Speaker of the notice for the motion.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) For the avoidance of doubt, this article applies to a Deputy Minister as it applies to a Minister of State.