The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has added voice to the calls by many well-meaning Ghanaians for the need for the review of the 1992 Republican Constitution to reflect the urgent needs and governance administration of the country.
The Director of Communications of the Progressive People’s Party, Mr Felix Mantey speaking in a media interview in the commemoration of the 31 years of the 1992 Republican democracy strongly posited that the change in time and the developmental need of the country calls for an immediate review of the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Felix Mantey, recounting the need for the country to review the 1992 constitution for the benefit of the Ghanaian people, argued that the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the relationship between the three arms of government, the executive, legislative and the judiciary in the country require immediate review.
The Director of Communications for the Progressive People’s Party also called for the introduction of a Public Declaration of Assets Regime, the separation of the Office of the Attorney General from the Ministry of Justice, and the clarification of Ghanaians living abroad and their eligibility to seek public office as some other areas or issues to be considered in the review of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Supporting his arguments, Mr Felix Mantey stated that to prevent abuse by the executive branch, Article 243, which dealt with the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives needed to be reviewed while ensuring that abuses of power of the challenge of the President appointing the majority of Parliamentary ministers will be prevented.
Explaining his calls for a proper separation of powers among the three arms of government, Mr Felix Mantey clarified that doing so would support a distinct division of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government and enable Parliament to carry out its oversight function over the executive.
Furthermore, Mr. Mantey emphasized that to ensure that the country’s fight against corruption succeeds, the public declaration of assets and liabilities must be made available both before and after one occupies and exits public office.
“It is important that the Minister of Justice, who is the government lawyer, is not the same person who is the people’s lawyer, and prosecuting crimes in the country. People in the government also commit crimes, so we need someone who is outside the government to prosecute all crimes”.
Felix Mantey, Director of Communications PPP
Mr Felix Mantey passionately asserted that the celebration and the commemoration of the country’s constitutional day would be meaningless unless some governance, administrative and legal changes were made in the 1992 Republican Constitution.
The Constitutional Review Commission Report
Commenting on the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry which was set up by the late President John Atta Mills in the year 2010 to collate the views of all Ghanaians on the 1992 Constitution, the Progressive People’s Party Director of Communications acknowledged the depth of work of the Commission and called for urgent use of its report.
He posited that the massive amount of state resources which was invested in the work of the Constitutional Review Commission particularly must reinforce the need for the country to make use of the report.
“It shall remain a scar on the conscience of right-thinking Ghanaians if these fundamental changes and many other brilliant recommendations contained in the CRC’s report continue to gather dust”
Felix Mantey, Director of Communications PPP
Meanwhile, Honorable Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, the Majority Leader and head of Government Business in Parliament has emphasized that a comprehensive review of the 1992 Republican Constitution is crucial to its continued existence.
“As we commemorate the day set aside to celebrate the genesis of the Fourth Republican Constitution, I salute all Ghanaians, especially, those who participated in crafting, as well as those who have been active in activating, implementing, interpreting, and reviewing the 1992 Constitution. As one people in one nation with a common destiny, it must be our collective strategic imperative to ensure the survival of Constitutionalism”.
Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu
According to the Suame Member of Parliament, the country must take immediate steps and measures to ensure that it can combine, harmonize, and complete all efforts and endeavors to alter and review the Constitution.
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