Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kamal-Deen Abdulai, has accused the government of breaching Ghana’s Constitution following the deployment of Ghanaian troops to Jamaica without parliamentary approval.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Kamal-Deen said the Minority’s concern is not about Ghana’s willingness to offer humanitarian assistance but about the failure of the Executive to follow due constitutional processes.
His comments come after Ghana deployed troops from the 48th, 49th, and 50th Engineer Regiments to Jamaica to support reconstruction works after the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa. The soldiers were officially sent off at a parade addressed by President John Mahama, who described the mission as a humanitarian obligation rooted in Ghana’s long-standing solidarity with the Caribbean nation.
However, Kamal-Deen argued that the deployment was done without records to Parliament and without regard for the Constitution, particularly Article 75, which governs the ratification of international agreements.
“I have averted my mind to Article 75 of the Constitution of Ghana, and it is very clear,” he said, adding that the Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the requirement that, as a dualist state, Ghana must seek parliamentary consent before entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements that become binding.
According to him, both the Constitution and the Supreme Court are emphatic that the Executive must obtain Parliament’s approval before committing the country to international obligations.
“Nobody is saying that you shouldn’t extend humanitarian services,” Kamal-Deen stressed. “But let’s do it according to the law.”
He cited Ghana’s assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010 under former President John Evans Atta Mills as a lawful precedent. He noted that Ghana extended about $3 million in support at the time, which was properly announced and handled through the appropriate legal processes.
Kamal-Deen also raised concerns about the financial implications of the Jamaica deployment, stating that about $10 million from Ghana’s Consolidated Fund is involved.
“This is our money, our hard-earned money moving out,” he said, adding that Sudan, Jamaica, and Cuba are each benefiting from portions of the funds.
He further accused the government of repeatedly bypassing Parliament, referencing previous reports of agreements with the United States concerning deportees and military cooperation, which, he claimed, were not brought before Parliament.
“As a dualist state, once you take a decision, you need ratification of Parliament to move on,” Kamal-Deen said, questioning why such decisions are rushed after cabinet discussions without parliamentary approval.
He maintained that the government’s parliamentary majority should not be used as a justification to sidestep constitutional requirements, describing parliamentary ratification as a necessary formality to protect the rule of law.
According to him, the minority believes the government’s actions show a growing disregard for constitutional governance.
“That is our concern,” he concluded.
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