President holds close-door meeting with Constitution Review Commission

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday held a close-door meeting with members of the Constitution Review Commission at th= e Osu Castle in Accra.

Details of the meeting are not yet known but it is believed that members of the Commission briefed the President on how far they had gone since thei= r inauguration in January last year.

President Mills inaugurated the nine-member body headed by Professor Albert Fiadjoe, Emeritis Professor of Law last year, in fulfilment of a pledge in his first sessional address to Parliament. The Commission has between 12 and 18 months to review the 1992 Constituion. The Commission was mandated to operate as a quasi-judicial body for 12 months and not more than 18 months.

Members of the Commission are Kumbun-Naa Iddrisu Abu, Paramount Chief of Kumbungu; Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area; Mr. Akenten Appiah-Menka, a Lawyer and an Industrialist; Mrs. Sabina Ofori-Boateng, Consultant to the Legislative Drafting Unit of Parliament; The Very Reverend Professor Samuel Kwasi Adjepong of Methodist University College; Dr Nicholas Amponsah, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana; Mr. Gabriel Pwamang, a Legal Practitioner; and Mrs. Jean Mensa, Executive Director of Institute of Economic Affairs.

The Commission was to ascertain from the people of Ghana, their views on the operation of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution, and in particular its strengths and weaknesses, articulate the concerns of the people on amendments that might be required for a comprehensive review and make recommendations to government for consideration and provide a draft Bill fo= r possible amendments to the Constitution.

The Commission was to co-opt the services of persons it considered suitable for the effective and efficient performance of its functions, whil= e President Mills may also assign public officers to assist the Commission. The almost 20-year-old Constitution needed a review that would reflect the views of the people to meet the aspirations and expectations of Ghanaians for efficient democratic governance.

The Commission has scheduled March 1-5, 2011 for a National Constitution Conference.

The 1992 Constitution is Ghana's fifth constitution since independence after those of 1957, 1960, 1969 and 1979. About 40 proposed amendments have been received so far. These include a review of the powers of the Executive President, process of tabling and passing of private members bill in Parliament, decoupling the position of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives. 24 Feb. 11

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