‘Those mandated to enforce the constitution have always sought shortcuts’ - Pratt

Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Dr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has argued that Ghana’s governance challenges stem not from flaws in the 1992 Constitution but from the failure of those entrusted with its enforcement and implementation to uphold its provisions.

He said extending the presidential term from four years to five or even 10 years would not address the country’s problems if the practices underpinning governance remained unchanged.

Speaking at the launch of six historiographies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Pratt questioned the significance of the ongoing debate over the duration of presidential terms, arguing that constitutional amendments alone would not guarantee improved governance.

“We are not in this national crisis because we have a bad constitution. We are in this crisis because those who have been empowered to enforce the Constitution and to implement it have always sought shortcuts out of our problems,” he indicated.

According to him, Ghana’s democratic system can only function effectively when those responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Constitution act in accordance with the law rather than allowing other considerations to influence their decisions.

He argued that even a well-crafted constitution would fail to deliver the desired results if the courts and other institutions responsible for upholding it did not discharge their duties appropriately.

Dr Pratt also criticised what he described as the capture of political power by a small minority seeking to protect and advance its own interests, saying such practices undermine the effectiveness of constitutional provisions.

Presidents must be taken out of EC appointments - Kwesi Pratt Jnr

On calls for a review of the Constitution, he noted that demands for reforms had persisted for decades, with many Ghanaians expressing dissatisfaction with the outcomes of the country’s governance arrangements.

However, he maintained that changing the length of a president’s tenure would not necessarily translate into better leadership or national development.

“Currently, there’s a long debate about whether the presidential term should be four years or five years. Where is that taking us? Let us agree that we want the president to stay in office for 10 years. What does that change?

“If our practices remain the same, the president can stay in office for 25 years. Nothing will change,” he stated.

Dr Pratt cited experiences in other African countries where presidents had amended constitutions to extend their time in office, arguing that longer presidential tenures had not automatically prevented national decline.

He stressed that Ghana’s priority should be to develop a crop of committed leaders capable of strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that the Constitution serves the interests of the wider population.

Dr Pratt expressed confidence that the NDC could produce such leaders to help address the governance challenges confronting the country.

Watch the video below

Launch of six Historiographies of NDC: “We are not in this national crisis because we have a bad Constitution, but because those empowered to enforce and implement it are always looking for shortcuts to our problems. If we agree to let the President stay in office for 10 years, what will that change? If our practices remain the same, the President can stay in office for 25 years and nothing will change.” — Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

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