Acting Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has downplayed concerns raised by the Minority Caucus in Parliament over the absence of Ghana’s President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament from the country.
Addressing the issue, Tamakloe said fears of a constitutional power vacuum are unfounded, stressing that Ghana’s governance structure remains intact and fully functional.
“I thought there were three arms of government — the Judiciary, the Executive, and the Legislature. Is the Acting Chief Justice in Ghana? Yes, there is. It is not about individuals; it’s about the office,” Tamakloe said.
He further clarified, “So as we speak, there is an Acting Chief Justice of the Republic, and that’s why we have three arms of government. What I can say is that there is no power vacuum. It does appear the President is even in the country.”
The Minority on Monday, May 12, 2025, expressed concerns in a statement about what they described as a breach of constitutional protocols. They pointed out that President John Mahama was attending the African Union Debt Conference in Togo, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was undergoing medical treatment in the UK, and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin was also out of the country.
They referenced Article 60 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that in the absence of both the President and Vice President, the Speaker or, failing that, the Chief Justice should act as President. However, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo is currently under suspension, further complicating the situation.
Despite these concerns, Tamakloe maintained that there is no constitutional crisis, noting that the presence of an acting Chief Justice and functioning institutions ensures continuity and stability in governance.