Deputy A-G advocates constitutional amendment

Accra, Feb 4, GNA- Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, on Friday advocated the strengthening of Parliament through a constitutional amendment.

He said such a move would ensure the review of legislations that have been on the statute books for far too long and have therefore, lost their relevance to current times.

Mr Osei-Prempeh said these at the weekend in a chat with journalists after a public forum, organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development on the Interpretation Bill, in Accra. He expressed regret that Ghana held on the Interpretation Bill, since its adoption in 1962, despite the fact that some of the provisions in that Bill did not adequately cater for the practice of modern jurisprudence.

Mr Osei-Prempeh noted that the United Kingdom from which Ghana adopted the Interpretation Bill had gone for a review in 1978 and announced that of Ghana was currently undergoing a review. He said the proposal has moved from Cabinet, and inputs from civil society groups were being sought for consideration by Parliament during the current session.

Mr Osei-Prempeh said the Road Traffic Act had similarly been on the statute books for more that 100 years, adding that the Law Reform Commission was constrained by logistical and manpower resources. He appealed to legal non-governmental organisation to assist the Commission in reviewing the nation's archaic laws.

Professor Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe, a Legal Expert, said interpretation was purely and basically a judgement law. He added that interpretation was a very complex assignment, and a Bill when reviewed was intended to help drafters of legislations to avoid unnecessary repetitions.