The President takes responsibility for all occurrences under his gov’t-Akufo-Addo

On February 27, 2024, 1:50 PM

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has accepted responsibility for the current economic challenges confronting the country.

According to him, executive powers are ultimately vested in the hands of the president, thereby any occurrences under a government should be placed on the President.

Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the accountability for challenges rests squarely with the president, he said in his address to Parliament on the State of the Nation Address(SONA) on Tuesday, February 27.

“Under the Constitution, the executive power of the state is vested in the President of the Republic. He or she is the executive. There’s no ambiguity about where the buck stops when it comes to responsibility for what happens in government. It stops with the President,” he said.

While acknowledging the importance of advice from officials and ministers, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed that the President holds the executive power, with the cabinet and ministers acting in an advisory capacity.

“Of course, a member of the government might turn an idea generated by the President or an official into a huge success, and the honours will be claimed or shared when public perception is favourable,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.

“But ultimately, the President is responsible and therefore takes the credit or the blame for whatever happens in his or her government.”

This follows the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer and Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia recent assertion of being a mere assistant to the President in the governance.

Dr. Bawumia clarified that the Economic Management Team (EMT), under his leadership, lacks decision-making powers and serves solely in an advisory capacity to the cabinet.

The SONA, mandated by Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, serves as a means for the President to provide an overview of the nation’s current state at the beginning of each session of Parliament.