Constitutional review forum calls for reduction in voting age

Salaga (NR), June 3, GNA - Participants at a public forum at Salaga in the East Gonja District on the Constitution, on Wednesday called for the review of Article 42 of the document to reduce voting rights from 18 to 15 years.

They argued that registration of minors were common features during voter registration exercises and had always been characterised by open confrontation and some times leading to deaths. The programme on the theme: "Enhancing Constitutionalism through effective citizen's participation for good governance," was meant to collate views on the public for a possible review of the 1992 Constitution, which had been in existence for almost two decades. The participants explained that minors of modern time were mature in thinking and could participate in elections to choose a government of their choice.

The participants also called for a review of the provision in the Constitution to disallow Members of Parliament (MPs) to be appointed as Ministers of State since it contravened the principle of separation of powers, which says the "Legislature shall be independent from the Executive". According to them, MP Ministers who attend Cabinet meetings could use their influence to manipulate State documents and devote little time to the business of parliament.

They also suggested the need for the review of provisions in the Constitution to elect District Chief Executives.

Others expressed the need to minimise the powers of the President in the appointment of people to the District Assemblies. Mr Alhassan Mumuni, District Chief Executive called for more copies of the Constitution to be made accessible to Ghanaians to help them to know more about their rights and the laws of the land. He appealed to Ghanaians to attach seriousness to the Constitution Review to ensure that the exercise succeeds saying, "The failure and success of the Constitution Review depends on all citizens." Mr Mumuni asked the people to participate in this year's District Level elections to improve on Ghana's local level governance system. Kumbun-Naa Yiri II, Naa Alhaji Iddrisu Abu, a member of the Constitution Review Commission noted that the exercise is not political motivated and that those who would sit on the fence would be jeopardizing the progress of the country.

He appealed to the citizenry to get involved in the exercise in order to deepen the country's democracy and good governance. 3 June 10