The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has proposed major reforms to the appointment and composition of ministers in Ghana, as part of its broader constitutional review.
The recommendations were presented in the committee’s final report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, 2025.
The recommendations are part of the committee’s effort to streamline governance, reduce political patronage, and enhance checks and balances between the legislature and the executive.
Chairman of the Committee, Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, outlined key changes aimed at promoting accountability, reducing conflicts of interest, and ensuring a more efficient government structure.
The committee recommends amending Article 78(1) to prevent sitting Members of Parliament from being appointed as Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, or Regional Ministers. In addition, MPs who resign from Parliament would also be ineligible for such appointments during the same parliamentary term.
Prof. Prempeh explained that the proposal is designed to separate legislative and executive powers more clearly, stating that no member of Parliament “may be appointed a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister or Regional Minister.”
On the size of government, the CRC recommends limiting the total number of Ministers of State—including Deputy and Regional Ministers—to three times the number of Cabinet ministers.
Since the Cabinet is capped at 19 members under Article 76(1), the total number of ministers would not exceed 57. The committee further advises against the appointment of Deputy Regional Ministers.
For situations where the President wishes to exceed the set limit, the CRC proposes that prior approval from Parliament be required.
“A President who desires to appoint a person as a Minister of State in excess of the stated ceiling shall furnish Parliament in writing with the specific reasons justifying the additional appointment and obtain the prior approval of Parliament,” the report states. Parliament’s approval would be granted by a simple majority.
