The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has called for a new constitutional order that would place a cap on the number of ministers appointed by the President.
His call follows demands by the Minority caucus in Parliament, for President Nana Akufo-Addo to downsize his government in the wake of the economic challenges. Speaking at the launch of the 30 years of parliamentary democracy, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu outlined a series of benefits to be achieved with the consideration of constitutional reform.
“We need a constitutional order that would mitigate the winner takes all attitude and prevent the do-or-die combat associated with our elections. We need a new constitutional order that would prevent the constant increase in the number of seats in Parliament.
“We need a new constitutional order that would put a cap on the number of ministers of state. We need a new constitutional order that would ensure that the Speaker of Parliament is a serving member of Parliament.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
He proposed that there was a need for a constitutional order, that frowned on a winner-takes-all syndrome and promotes collaboration, collectiveness and consensus building.
“The 1992 constitution has no doubt served some good in the last three decades, I must, however, admit that some assumptions underpinning some reformations no longer hold or are not supported by the current socio-political realities.
“This underlines the calls by various stakeholders for the review of the 1992 Constitution. It is time to re-engineer our constitutional architecture to conform to today’s realities.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has also called for an entirely new constitution, contrary to calls for the 1992 constitution to be amended.
Prof. Antwi-Danso, holds the view that a new constitution written by a committee, so established, will repair any defects that currently plague the country’s democratic dispensation. “I believe that if we have something new (new constitution), politicians will jump to it to serve a better purpose,” he stressed.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has also asked both sides of the House to collaborate and work in unison, for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Minority Reminds Government Of Causes Of Coups Against Nkrumah And Busia
The Minority in Parliament, has pointed out the reasons behind the 1966 coup against Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and that of 1972, against Kofi Abrefa Busia to demand collective efforts towards resolution of current economic crisis.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during the launch of the 30th anniversary celebration of Parliamentary democracy; Minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, charged politicians to be mindful of negative impressions their actions create in the minds of citizens.
According to him, military interventions are not in the interest of the national progress and thus, conscious efforts should be made to keep them out of the governance process.
“Indeed, on the 28th of April, 1992, the referendum which led to the abortion of the Constitution has become a major landmark in Ghana’s political history. Ghanaians, through the referendum have agreed to a new form of governance in our country.
“Mr. Speaker, Parliamentary democracy is a representative democracy and it is the one that allows a selected few to act and decide, amongst many others. It is the one that calls for a debate scrutiny oversight, deliberations and consensus building.”
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
Majority leader and minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on his part, called for a new constitutional order. The Suame Minister of Parliament (MP) also, demanded some changes to the constitution in response to current realities.
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