Remove bogus indemnity clauses in 1992 constitution – Odike tells parliament

Founder and leader of United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr. Kwasi Addai Odike has attacked the 1992 Constitution describing it as irreverent in this modern times which is also to blame for the country’s woes, MyNewsGh.com reports.

“The Constitution we are using to govern the country is bogus”, he spoke during a panel discussion on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM morning show monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

According to the businessman cum politician, the Constitution as right now gives so many powers to the President of the Republic which according to him, is denting the democracy; a path Ghana has chosen to go.

“Everything bothers on the Executive President so anyone in power can choose to do what he or she likes”, Mr. Odike told the host of ‘Kroyi Mu Nsem’ political talk show, Aduanaba Kofi Asante Enning.

The 2016 presidential candidate of UPP, therefore, suggested: “we should strip of some of the powers of the President to end the impunity that goes on in the country currently”.

“The Constitution should not be in a way that will protect some persons 100%. The indemnities clause must be removed to make us all equal before the law”, Mr. Kwasi Addai Odike said.

It would be recalled the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin also raised similar concerns in times past calling for the powers of the executive to be curtailed if the country is truly committed to pursuing democracy to the latter.

Even though, Ghana has been touted as one of the pacesetters of true democratic practices on the African Continent, some authorities believe flaws in the country’s constitution leaves much to be desired.

According to Deputy Speaker of Parliament, too much power has been vested in the President who has executive powers to take decisions making their positions since the beginning of the fourth republic look like ‘elected dictators’.

He proposes that there is an urgent need for constitutional reforms to scrap off some of the powers of the President if the country is indeed committed to practicing true democracy.

“Natural practice, we have elected dictators. That is what we have set up in the constitution. There is no difference between them and the military leaders”, he disclosed in an address to Students’ Parliament at the University of Education, Winneba- Kumasi campus, on the theme, ‘Parliamentary democracy in Ghana- a practitioner perspective.’