Kumasi, June 15, GNA - Participants at a stakeholders' consultative forum on the review of the 1992 Constitution in Kumasi have expressed opposition to the extension of the President's four-year tenure. They argued that since a President who performs well during his first term in office, could be re-elected for another term, there is no need to extend the four-year mandate.
There was consensus that eight years is enough for any Head of State to accomplish his or her development agenda and that any President who gets his or her priorities right would not require extension of his or term. Mr Richard Yeboah, Chairman of the Roman Hill branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, suggested the need for the strengthening of State institutions to ensure that government is open, transparent and accountable.
He said any ruling political party should get into serious business from day one or get kicked out in four years.
Ms Agnes Owusu, an educationist, said the main problem confronting the nation's socio-economic progress was not about how long the President stayed in office but good and accountable leadership.
"Our leaders should be focused, patriotic and be determined to fight corruption in all its forms to enable them deliver up to expectation within the mandated time frame."
Mr Isaac Amoah, a journalist, said elected leaders should work hard to make live a bit comfortable for the people and should not be selfish. Others issues that came up were the decoupling of the position of Attorney General from that of Minister of Justice, change of the timing for the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections and appointment of majority of Ministers from parliament.
Mr Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, Researcher and Counsel to the Constitutional Review Commission said there was the need for more scientific and conscious decisions on the governance architecture, which could lead to home-grown solution of the many problems faced by the nation.
