Prominent lawyer Martin Kpebu has joined the chorus of voices from the Minority in Parliament calling for the Controller and Accountant General to resign. Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem's choice to run for the Akim Swedru Constituency parliamentary seat on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket has prompted the resignation demand.
Kpebu cited Article 94(3) of the Constitution, which states that certain officeholders are prohibited from running for the office of Member of Parliament. These officeholders include those in the Police Service, Prisons Service, Armed Forces, Judicial Service, Legal Service, Civil Service, and Audit Service, among others.
He stressed that according to the constitution, when a civil servant becomes overt in their political activities, they are mandated to resign from their office. Kpebu underscored that the clause doesn't focus solely on political affiliation but on the public demonstration of such activities. He further emphasized that simply announcing the intention to contest and campaigning ahead of the primaries constitute overt political practices, as outlined by the constitution.
Referring to the case law, Kpebu highlighted the CLOGSSAG case, reiterating that once a civil servant becomes overtly involved in political activities, resignation becomes mandatory. He pointed out that Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem's active campaigning with a campaign team represents overt political involvement, compelling him to resign in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
Kpebu stressed that personnel of a ministry are in fact regarded as belonging to the civil service in response to the claim that the Controller and Accountant General are not covered by it. He emphasized that the government accountant is a member of the Controller and Accountant General department, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Finance and thus functions as a civil service.
Kpebu called for immediate action, stressing that Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem should submit his resignation as soon as possible and emphasizing that his resignation is expected the next day.
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