The members of the Constitution Review Commission has concluded their tour; meeting with Ghanaians in London at the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre of the the School of Oriental and African Studies on the 8th April 2011. This is the last leg of their world tour to consult Ghanaians abroad for their imput into the recommendations for a possible review of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.
In his opening remarks, the Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo stated that the president in his own wisdom decided that we need to take a critical look at the 1992 constitution. According to him, the president did not limit the review process to only Ghanaians living in Ghana and has tasked the the Review Commission to consult Ghanaians abroad.
"The president upon election, in his own wisdom, decided that we needed to take a good look at our Constitution that has been running since 1992. And in undertaking that exercise, he did not limit himself to the geographical confines of Ghana. He felt that this able body team led by our dear brother Professor Fiadjoe including distinguish individuals, political scientist like Dr Nicholas Amponsah....have undertaken this very important exercise, they toured several parts of the world and now they are here with us in the United Kingdom. " The Chairman for the evening, Dr Emmanuel Akuffo, Consultant Psychiatrist, expressed his profound gratitude to be chairing the function. He stated that he is very proud to be a Ghanaian at a time there are aggitations across Africa and Ghana remaining the only peaceful country in the sub-region.
In a statement, the Chairman of Ghanaian Union, UK, Mr Kwame Adu, expressed the pleasure of the Ghanaian community in the UK for the opportunity the Constitution Review Commission has given them to make submissions and to express their views on the review process. He pledged the support of the Ghanaian community to the constitution review process.
In a keynote address, Professor Emeritus Albert Fiadjoe, Chair of the Constitution Review Commission, introduced the members of the commission, some of whom were in Ghana, to the Ghanaians participating in the consultation. The commission's chairman stated their resolve to come out with a workable and much respected document. In doing so, the commission toured the whole of Ghana, the 170 districts, with 2 consultations. He said that the Commision held national mini consultations in all regional thematic areas such as human rights, children, youth, national security, and national resources. The Commission also consulted agencies of Government, organised labour, faith based organisations, oral submission, emails, social networking sites such as facebook and twitter and sort code text messages from Ghanaians.
They also met leading figures in Ghana including former heads of state and political party leaders. According to him the commission has received over 85,000 submissions from Ghanaians so far. He applauded Ghanaians abroad for submitting a well structured contributions to the process.
The Chairman of the Commission pointed out that dual citizenship, voting rights and married partners have been given prominence by the constitution and therefore need special attention by the participants. He emphasised the ownership of the process, which he said belongs to Ghanaians. Participants called for the repeal of the idemnity clause to ensure probity and accountability; separation of the Ministry of Justice from the Attorney General's office, Ghanaians living abroad be allowed to vote; electing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs); decentralisation and equal rights for Ghanaians with dual citizenship among others.
The highlight of the evening was the submission made by Mr Francis Poku, former Minister of National Security. In his submission, he made reference to article 83.1 of the 1992 constitution and proposed that the national security council should incliude the National Security Coordinator, Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Navi and a committee to be responsible for national security policy. He stated issues bordering on national secuirty such as transitional and electoral issues, problems of Ghanaians abroad, slow pace of doing business in Ghana, challenges imposed by technology, national disasters; all to be handled by a National Security Committee and appointment of regional security coordinators.
It will be recalled that the Consittution Review Commission was established on the 11th of January 2010 by the His Excellency Professor J.E.A. Mills with a mandate to:
"ascertain from the people of Ghana, their views on the operation of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution and, in particular, the strenghts and weaknesses of the Constitution; articulate the concerns of the people of Ghana as regards the amendments that may be required for a comprehensive review of the 1992 Consitution; make recommendations to the Government for consideration and provide a draft Bill for possible amendments to the 1992 Constitution."
The Professor Fiadjoe congratulated participants for deepening democracy and promised that by June this year, there would be a draft bill submitted to the Government.
