The Minority leader in Parliament has questioned the Oath of Office President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia took during their swearing in.
Haruna Iddrisu said the first and second gentlemen of the land pronounced crucial words in the wrong order at their inauguration on January 7.
The Second Schedule of the 1992 Constitution contains forms of oath that has to be taken by President-elect, Vice-President-elect, Members of Parliament (MP), Council of State Members, Cabinet members, Auditor-General, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice and Ministers of State.
According to Mr Iddrisu, instead of the President saying “…I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons,” he said “…I dedicate myself to the service and welfare…”
The former Employment Minister continued that when the Vice President was taking the Oath of Allegiance, he was also supposed to have said “…that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Ghana,” but in a wierd manner said “ I will uphold the Insovereign…”
Although he did not call for the Oaths to be retaken as it is done in some jurisdictions, he entreated government officials to take their oaths seriously since they represent the heart of the Constitution.
A case in point was when former United States President, Barack Obama missed some words in his Oath of Office. Confusion arose in the country after a newspaper carried the headline “Oaf of Office.” This prompted calls for former President Obama to retake the oath. Chief Justice John Roberts readministered the oath to the President at the White House.
In another development, Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Ocquaye has entreated first time MPs to take their training in the House seriously.
“There is the need for members particularly the new ones to quickly work out to understand the concepts and working systems of parliament and appreciate the rudiments of governance,” he said.
This, he explained would afford them the opportunity to work “efficiently within the parliamentary setting.”
Professor Ocquaye encouraged them to take full advantage of Parliament’s induction programme “by attending and making good use of the human and material resources that would be made available to members.”
