Yaw Boateng Gyan demands review of President’s powers

A former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan, has called for an amendment of the 1992 Constitution to repeal the prerogative powers of the president in appointing heads of public institutions.

Mr Boateng Gyan wants the institutions to be empowered and allowed to be totally independent in order to enhance their operations regardless of who becomes president of the country.

He has said institutions like the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and others are independent per the constitution but are being manipulated because the chairperson (s)are appointed by the president.

Speaking on Yensempa on Onua FM, the former NDC National Organiser also called for a total independence of the judiciary to allow for a smooth system of justice.

He noted that Ghana will continue to experience situations like the current perception about the EC if the president continues to have the prerogative powers in appointing the chairperson.

The newly appointed National Coordinator for NDC’s ‘Adopt One District One Polling Center’ agenda indicated that the Ghana Police Service, the EC, CHRAJ and other institutions can never be independent if powers given president in appointing the heads are not repealed.

He asserted the removal of Mrs. Charlotte Osei as EC chair was a grand agenda by President Nana Akufo-Addo and his administration to remain in power for a long period of time.

He added President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo knowing his agenda had appointed 10 Supreme Court judges in his first term of office to influence justice should the 2020 general election results proceed to court.