Akwasi Addai Odike, the Founder of the United Progress Party (UPP) has opined that the Ghanaian Constitution has no vision for the youth of the country.
He highlighted that should the constitution remain unchanged, young people will be compelled to linger in pain and poverty.
“The 1992 Constitution has no hope or future for the youth; there are portions if not changed or reviewed the youth would remain poorer and miserable irrespective of who becomes the next president.”
Akwasi Addai Odike
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Odike complained about the exclusive constitutional authority given to the President at the expense of the citizens who voted to elect the President into office.
With regard to late ex-President Jerry John Rawlings’s regime, the Founder of the UPP alleged that the late ex-President established a committee to draft and enact the 1992 Constitution to support his democracy agenda.
Mr. Addai Odike further asserted that the late Jerry Rawlings impelled the committee to empower the high Office of the Presidency with comprehensive prerogative powers in order to govern Ghana entirely.
This, per his assertions, triggered the boycott of the 1992 Parliamentary election by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to the Founder of the UPP, the 1992 Constitution basically shields the executive arm of government from strict probes and prosecution after misspending or embezzlement of funds.
Meanwhile, Mr. Odike intimated that all Presidents have failed to revise the constitution because they all benefit from the privilege that comes along with the Presidency.
Furthermore, the institutor of the UPP requested for the rescission of the constitutional provision that permits the President to appoint the Auditor General, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other relevant offices in Ghana.
Mr. Odike believes that the revision of the 1992 Constitution and revocation of the exclusive powers granted to the president, would make the members of the executive arm of government more accountable.
“We have to review these portions of the constitution and take some power from the executive arm of government so citizens can hold them accountable. If that is not done, even the Pope will be corrupt if he becomes Ghana’s President”.
Akwasi Addai Odike
Appointments by the President
Aside the appointment of the Auditor General and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chapter 70 section (1) of the 1992 Constitution empowers the President to make other appointments.
Acting in consultation with the Council of State, the Constitution allows the President to appoint the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and his Deputies.
Meanwhile, Section (2) under Chapter 70 of the 1992 Constitution authorizes the President to appoint the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, and other members of the Electoral Commission (EC) based on the advice of the Council of State
Also, the Constitution gives the President the power to grant a person convicted of an offence a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions.
“Where a person is sentenced to death for an offence, a written report of the case from the trial judge or judges, together with such other information derived from the record of the case or elsewhere as may be necessary, shall be submitted to the President.”
1992 Constitution
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