Over the past three decades of Ghana’s fourth democratic and constitutional practice, there have been growing concerns over the impartiality and integrity of the President’s appointments to key public offices in the country.
The appointment powers which is conferred on the President by Article 70 of the 1992 Constitution have been viewed by many governance experts as a bane to the independence of most key state institutions.
Many critics argue that the appointment of the Chief Justice, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the Inspector General of Police among many others by the President breeds political interference in the management of such key state institutions.
Consistently, such critics have emphasized the need for an independent and transparent process to safeguard against nepotism and political interference in the appointments of high-ranking public officers.
Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President and the Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, commenting on the vexed matter called for Ghana to adopt a more transparent and independent process for appointing key public officers.
His proposal, inspired by the Kenyan model of public interviews televised to the nation, underscored the urgent need to safeguard against favouritism and ensure meritocracy in appointments, particularly for critical positions such as Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission among others.
In Kenya, Mr Cudjoe recounted that the Judicial Service Commission conducts live interviews for the selection of a Chief Justice, a process that culminates in parliamentary vetting and subsequently presidential appointment.
This transparent approach he noted aims to mitigate the risk of nepotism and political interference, fostering public trust in the judiciary and democratic institutions.
The leader of the renowned think-tank and advocacy group further asserted that Ghana could benefit immensely from adopting a similar mechanism, given the growing concerns over the impartiality and integrity of appointments to key public offices by the President.
According to him, the current system in Ghana leaves much to be desired, with appointments often clouded by allegations of favouritism and opaque decision-making processes.
Meritocracy over Nepotism
By subjecting candidates to public interviews, Mr Cudjoe mentioned that Ghana could significantly enhance accountability, promote competence, and strengthen democratic governance.
He also stated that when potential high-ranking public officers such as the Commissioners of the country’s electoral management body are subjected to a rigorous and transparent process during their appointments, it would have a high tendency to instil confidence in the electoral system and ensure the credibility of future elections.
It is important to state that Mr Cudjoe’s advocacy reflects a broader push for democratic reform and good governance in Ghana, as it resonates with several citizens, civil society organizations, and legal experts alike.
Afrobarometer, a nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on Africans’ experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life in its latest report revealed that 17. 1 per cent of Ghanaians are not at all satisfied with the country’s democracy while about 31.3 per cent are not very satisfied.
The worrying revelation thus calls for more efforts by the government and all stakeholders to help improve citizens’ trust and confidence in the country’s democratic governance.
Given the above, the calls for transparent appointment processes are not merely about procedural niceties in the view of many but rather about safeguarding the integrity of the country’s institutions and upholding the principles of democracy.
For many, it is about ensuring that those entrusted with critical responsibilities are selected based on merit and competence rather than political expediency or personal connections.
While the calls by the founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe and many others are appropriate, it is also worth mentioning that implementing such a system in Ghana would require careful consideration of institutional and legal reforms.
However, these should not serve as insurmountable barriers to progress. The imperative to strengthen the country’s democracy and uphold the rule of law demands bold and decisive action.
As discussions continue, it is incumbent upon the ruling government and future governments to heed the voices of the people and embrace meaningful reforms in the appointment of key public officers to improve upon the country’s democratic governance.
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