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The Office of the Cabinet Secretary has issued a stern directive reminding all Ministers of State to strictly follow laid-down Cabinet procedures before making any public policy announcements, following recent instances of unilateral ministerial declarations.
The directive, issued on Monday, October 27, 2025, cautions that no policy, programme, or initiative shall be regarded as official government policy unless it has been submitted to, discussed, and approved by Cabinet.
According to the statement cited by Citi News, the move aims to curb a growing trend where some ministers announce major decisions on behalf of the government without prior cabinet deliberation or authorisation.
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The reminder comes in the wake of recent policy pronouncements by Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, who, within a two-day span, directed the use of local languages as the medium of instruction in basic schools and instructed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to enforce discipline by prohibiting students from wearing unapproved hairstyles.
While both directives sparked widespread public debate, the Cabinet Office’s statement appears to reassert the constitutional principle of collective responsibility, which requires that major policy measures reflect Cabinet consensus rather than individual ministerial decisions.
The directive reiterates that all proposed policies, programmes, and legislative initiatives must first be submitted through the Chief Director of the respective Ministry to the Cabinet Secretariat, where they will be formally placed on the Cabinet agenda for review and approval.
“Adherence to this process is essential for maintaining policy coherence, ensuring collective Cabinet responsibility, and guaranteeing that government communications reflect the unified and approved position of the administration.”
the statement emphasised.
Ministers have also been cautioned to refrain from implementing or announcing any policy initiatives that have not received formal Cabinet endorsement, with a warning that such actions will not be recognised as official government policy.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has issued a clarification, stating that the policy on the use of Ghanaian languages as the medium of instruction applies only from kindergarten to primary three (lower primary) — not throughout the entire basic school system.
The clarification follows public confusion after Mr Iddrisu’s remarks suggested that all basic schools would be required to teach exclusively in local languages.
The Office of the Cabinet Secretary concluded by urging all ministers to be guided by established procedures, underscoring that maintaining internal discipline and coordinated communication is vital to effective governance.
“Government speaks with one voice through Cabinet decisions. Ministers are therefore reminded to uphold the principles of consultation, coordination, and collective responsibility at all times.”
the statement concluded.
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