The government has issued a firm directive reminding all Ministers of State that no major policy initiative or programme may be publicly announced without prior Cabinet approval.

The instruction, contained in a circular dated October 27, was signed by the Secretary to Cabinet, Prof Kwaku Danso-Boafo.

It follows what the government describes as a trend of some ministers announcing initiatives “purportedly on behalf of government” before those proposals have been formally discussed or approved by Cabinet.

According to the directive, such actions violate constitutional protocols and breach the principle of collective government responsibility, which requires that all major policy decisions reflect consensus at the Cabinet level.

“Cabinet wishes to remind all Ministers that, in accordance with established governance protocols and the collective responsibility principle enshrined in the Constitution, no public policy, programme, or major initiative shall be considered a policy of government unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet,” the circular stated.

The notice further instructed Ministers to channel all proposed policies, programmes, and legislative initiatives to the Cabinet Secretariat through the Chief Directors of their respective Ministries.

This process, it said, will ensure that all government decisions are properly vetted, aligned with national priorities, and formally placed on the Cabinet agenda before public communication.

Full statement below:

ADHERENCE TO CABINET PROCEDURES IN THE
FORMULATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC POLICIES

The attention of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary has been drawn to the growing practice where some Ministers of State have publicly announced, or caused to be announced, major policy initiatives and programmes purportedly on behalf of the Government without prior discussion, review, or approval by Cabinet.

2. Cabinet wishes to remind all Ministers that, in accordance with established governance protocols and the collective responsibility principle enshrined in the Constitution, no public policy, programme, or major initiative shall be considered a policy of Government unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet.
3. For the avoidance of doubt, Ministers are respectfully requested to ensure that all proposed policies, programmes, or legislative initiatives intended for public announcement or implementation are first submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat, through the Chief Director of their respective Ministries, for inclusion on the Cabinet agenda and subsequent consideration by Cabinet.
4. This directive is intended to safeguard policy coherence, uphold collective Cabinet responsibility, and ensure that all Government communications and actions reflect the unified and approved position of the Administration.
5. Ministers are therefore advised to refrain from announcing or implementing any policy that has not received Cabinet approval. Any such public statement or initiative undertaken outside this process shall not be deemed to represent official Government policy.
6. Please be guided accordingly.