Parliament must not be an appendage of the executive – Fifi Kwetey calls for constitutional reform

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), advocates for constitutional amendments. He wants to stop Members of Parliament from also being ministers. Kwetey calls the current system deceptive and harmful to Ghana’s democracy.

On Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme, he explained that this arrangement blurs lines between parliamentary service and executive roles. This weakens Parliament's independence and limits its ability to check the government.

Kwetey insists that constitutional review should focus on separating these roles. He criticized a political culture where candidates seek legislative positions but aim for ministerial roles once elected. This practice misleads voters and undermines true parliamentary service.

He stated, “If you want to run to become an MP, we must know your intentions.” Kwetey warned that Parliament risks becoming irrelevant if it remains tied to the executive branch.

He called for a shift in power to restore parliamentary autonomy. Kwetey emphasized that Parliament should not just follow what the executive wants.

“The best way to serve Ghanaians is for Parliament to do its job,” he said. It should be able to say, “No, this is not acceptable.”

Kwetey compared Ghana's situation with other democracies worldwide. In many countries, being a minister is secondary to serving in Parliament. “Parliament was simply a means by which you wanted to serve your people,” he noted. Becoming a minister should be seen as a bonus, not the main goal.