......of the law, should feel free to go back to school. This jumping into court every time Mahama sneezes is ridiculous.
......of the law, should feel free to go back to school. This jumping into court every time Mahama sneezes is ridiculous.
Mahmoud 8 years ago
Appointing the Chairman and Members of the Electoral Commission
Columnist Asare, Kwaku S
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called upon the President “to seize the opportunity of the appointment of a new Chairman of ... read full comment
Appointing the Chairman and Members of the Electoral Commission
Columnist Asare, Kwaku S
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called upon the President “to seize the opportunity of the appointment of a new Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) to appoint a person of integrity who is perceived as capable and just and who will not pander to political pressures from any quarters.” According to the GBA, such an appointment will boost the image and credibility of the Commission.
I agree with the GBA on the attributes that the new Chairman of the EC must possess and strongly disagree with those who argue that the GBA’s call is, “at this time, highly unnecessary and uncalled for.” The tenure of Dr. Afari Gyan, the current Chairman of the EC, ends in November 2015 and it is not out of place for the GBA, or other stakeholders, to remind the appointing authorities to emplace a mechanism that assures that a competent and independent person can be identified and appointed.
Nevertheless, I am concerned that the GBA’s call overestimates, perhaps misunderstands, the President’s role in the appointment of the Chairman of the EC and has the potential to mislead the President into taking actions that will be ultra vires and inconsistent with his powers under the Constitution.
I start by acknowledging the breadth of the President’s appointment power under the Constitution. However, the nature of the power is position dependent, ranging from absolute, where the President acts alone, to perfunctory, where the President is required to appoint someone nominated by another body. For instance, the President has the power to appoint 11 members of the Council of State, 4 members of the Judicial Council and 2 members of the Police and Armed Forces Council. That power is absolute in that it is exercised solely at the discretion of the President without the involvement of any other constitutional body. On the other hand, the President appoints some officers, such as the Auditor General, in consultation with the Council of State while others, such as ministers, are appointed with the prior approval of Parliament.
The framers of the Constitution have imposed varying levels of constraints on the President’s appointment power for democratic, governance, prudential and historical considerations. Analyzing and understanding the nature of the President’s appointment power is, therefore, important to assuring that the power is exercised in the manner dictated by the Constitution.
In the Table below, I describe my understanding of the constraints that the Constitution imposes on the President's appointment power ranging from a Level 1 power (pure or absolute power) to a Level 10 power (perfunctory or ministerial power). In addition to the pure and perfunctory powers, I identify other appointments for which the President wields consultative, shared, or approval power. Consultative power means the President is required to consult another body prior to making an appointment. Shared Power means another body has to approve the President’s nomination. Approval Power means the President approves a nomination made by another body. Perfunctory power means the President is required to appoint persons nominated by other bodies. That is, the President has no involvement in selecting the nominee and no discretion in the appointment. Thus, the appointment power is merely ministerial involving no more than a mandatory appointment letter issued by the President. The process for appointing some public officers may involve a combination of powers. For instance, the President may be required to consult with the Council of State, hence a consultative power, and the nominee must be approved by Parliament, hence a shared power.
In addition to the Level and Nature of the power, the Table also provides the language employed by the Constitution and the positions for which the appointments are made. On close inspection of the Table, one observes that, as a general rule, the more independent the appointee is supposed to be in the performance of his task the more perfunctory the President's power. Such appointees also tend to have good-behavior life tenure. Conversely, the President typically acts alone to appoint persons who are part of bodies set up to advise him. These appointees tend to serve at the pleasure of the President or have tenure that is tied to the President’s. In effect, the nature of the President’s appointment power is remarkably nuanced and underscores the framers’ intention to subject the power to intricate and ingenious checks and balances.
As can be seen from the Table, the President’s power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the EC is at level 9a, which means that the power to make that appointment is perfunctory or ministerial. This is because Article 70(2) provides that, “The President shall, acting on the advice of the Council of State, appoint the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, and other members of the Electoral Commission.” The plain and ordinary meaning of Article 70(2) is that the President is obliged to act on the advice of the Council of State in appointing the Chairman and Members of the EC.
There are two important points about the “advice” contemplated in Article 70(2). First, it is a term of art. Advice, in constitutional law, is a binding instruction given by one constitutional officer to another. It is not “advice” in the everyday meaning of the word. Second, the advice must be in the form of an appointee not some attributes of the appointee. That is, the Council of State is required to give the President a nominee to appoint not advice in the form of, for instance, “Mr. President, we advice you to choose a man of integrity.”
The use of “advice” as a binding instruction has a long history in our Constitutional history. For instance, Section 16 of the 1957 Constitution provides that “the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints parliamentary secretaries to assist ministers.” Similarly, Section 7 of that Constitution provides that, “any minister may be removed from office by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.” The Prime Minister at that time was Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah and the Governor-General was Sir Charles Arden-Clerk [from March to June 1957] and the Earl of Listowel [June 1957 to June 1960]. It was, of course, well established, known and beyond dispute that the Prime Minister’s advice was binding on the Governor-General. Thus, the latter’s appointment power was merely perfunctory and the substantive power of appointment was vested in the Prime Minister. Moreover, it was also understood that the Governor-General played no role in the identification, vetting and selection or removal of the nominees, that power being vested in the Prime Minister.
As another example, both the 1969 (Article 30(2)) and 1979 (Article 37(2)) Constitutions provided that, “the Electoral Commissioner shall be appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State.” This simply meant that both President Edward Akufo Addo (1969-1972) and Hilla Liman (1979-1981) had a perfunctory appointment power with the substantive power to appoint the Electoral Commissioner vested in the Council of State. The framers of the 1992 Constitution did not break any new grounds in the process for appointing the Chairman and Members of the EC and clearly intended the meaning of advice as employed in the prior Constitutions.
Nor is that usage and meaning of advice unique to our constitutional history. The phrase originated in the United Kingdom and is still in use many common law jurisdictions. For instance, in the United Kingdom, the Queen appoints senior judges acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. In Canada, the Queen acts entirely on the advice of Canadian Government ministers. In Jamaica, the Governor-General, the Queen’s representative, acts in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. In all these cases, it is well understood that the advice given is binding and the Queen and Governor-General exercise only perfunctory powers.
Thus, when Article 70(2) of the 1992 Constitution provides that the President shall act on the advice of the Council of State, it contemplates that the Council of State (Council) will put in place a mechanism to search for, vet and nominate a candidate for the President to appoint. The Council could do so in a variety of ways. First, it could work through a committee of the Council. Essentially, this becomes a Search Committee tasked to identify a short list of qualified persons for the Council to choose from. Second, the Council is permitted to commission experts and other consultants to advise it. It could do so here. Third, the Council could advertise the position or call on citizens, political parties, NGOs, etc. to nominate candidates either to the Council at large or to the Search Committee. Finally, the Council could use my least favorite approach ? choose someone from within the EC, probably from the other members or a respected senior staff.
The important point is that Article 70(2) not only obligates the President to appoint whomever the Council nominates but it also bars the President from sending a name or otherwise consulting with the Council prior to the nomination. This process can be contrasted to the level 2 appointments where the Constitution contemplates a consultative process. For instance, the President appoints the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator acting in consultation with the Council of State. By creating subsections of Article 70, the framers highlighted that the process for appointing Article 70(1) officers differs from that of Article 70(2) officers.
The rational for assigning the President a perfunctory role in the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the EC is not far-fetched. The EC is, in essence the political referee of the quadrennial political games, and it is flawed constitutional design for the President, a key political player, to have an active role in the EC’s appointment. Incidentally, this, in my opinion, is also the reason why Parliament is excluded from this appointment process. It would have been absurd to assign the President a critical role in the appointment process and exclude Parliament, hence the opposition parties, from the process. Thus, a purposive interpretation of Article 70(2) will also support the conclusion that the President’s power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the EC is only ministerial.
The framers operated on the assumption that the Council is an independent, non-partisan body and could be trusted with the task of essentially appointing the Members and Chairman of the EC. Thus, the Council's independence and integrity are critical to the effectiveness of this appointment scheme. Nevertheless, because the President has a level 1 power to appoint 11 out of the 25 Council members, it is important that any process established by the Council to discharge its Article 70(2) function is transparent and verifiable. Without a high level of transparency and verifiability, it is impossible to know whether the President has acted on the advice of the Council or impermissibly acted in Consultation with the Council. Thus, sound governance and prudential considerations will require the Council to employ a transparent nomination, vetting and selection process. The Council must not only act independently of the President, in the discharge of its Article 70(2) responsibility, it must go the extra mile to be seen to be independent.
In conclusion, the President’s power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the EC is merely a ministerial one. The substantive power of appointment is assigned to the Council of State. The President shall act on the advice of the Council of State means the President is barred from the nomination, vetting and selection process. Those who framed the Constitution were keenly aware of the impropriety inherent in allowing the President, a political player, to play a critical role in selecting the political referee. Nevertheless, out of deference for the office of the President, the framers allowed him, as the Chief Executive Officer, the honour of “appointing” the candidate selected by the Council of State. In this case, all the President is required to do is to issue the appointment letter under the Presidential seal but no more.
Women should stop making noise about achieving gender equality in the world.It can never be achieved.And in Ghana women are not discriminated against when it comes to appointing women to higher positions.The most important th ... read full comment
Women should stop making noise about achieving gender equality in the world.It can never be achieved.And in Ghana women are not discriminated against when it comes to appointing women to higher positions.The most important thing is to ensure that girls get the same chance as boys to get educated.
Mahmoud 8 years ago
The president has no right under the constitution to appoint EC chairperson and its members. His powers under the constitution in this regard are perfunctory and not substantive like appointing his own ministers. His appointm ... read full comment
The president has no right under the constitution to appoint EC chairperson and its members. His powers under the constitution in this regard are perfunctory and not substantive like appointing his own ministers. His appointment of the lady is, therefore ultra vires because the president is a leading political player and does not have substantive powers under the constitution to appoint the political referee. In fact, the appointment is against the letter and spirit of the constitution. Our constitution does not seek to give undue advantage to one political player over the other players, and the real meaning of the word "advice" must be understood in its constitutional context.
ADAMU 8 years ago
STOP BORING OUR EARS, DIDNT BETTYMOULD DUPE GHANA OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FAKE JDGT DEBTS DESPITE BEING THE FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GEN?.....NDC HAS LOTS OF SUCH LADY VAMPIRES IN POWER AND IN OFFICE AND OUT OF OFFICE ...LIK ... read full comment
STOP BORING OUR EARS, DIDNT BETTYMOULD DUPE GHANA OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FAKE JDGT DEBTS DESPITE BEING THE FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GEN?.....NDC HAS LOTS OF SUCH LADY VAMPIRES IN POWER AND IN OFFICE AND OUT OF OFFICE ...LIKE BETTYMOULD, VICCI HAMMAH, HANNAH TETTEH, ETC ETC....THESE ARE REALLY WICKEEEEEEED NDC WOMEN WHO ARE WORSE THAN SHARKS AND VAMPIRES.
Michael 8 years ago
Am sure last night you slept with a woman, How dare you denigrate women like that? You are pathetic.
Am sure last night you slept with a woman, How dare you denigrate women like that? You are pathetic.
HONESTY 8 years ago
If we are to list the number of men who have abused their positions in respect to the ratio of women, you will be amazed how stupid your comment reads to the sensible majority of the world.
Women are humans and can error, ... read full comment
If we are to list the number of men who have abused their positions in respect to the ratio of women, you will be amazed how stupid your comment reads to the sensible majority of the world.
Women are humans and can error, but that does not mean they should not have their equal chances in life.
Please stop repeating this ignorant comment because it puts a shame on the general intelligence of Ghana.
Isaac SA 8 years ago
If wormen are worse then, your mother is also worse. Learn how to respect a woman.
women are aer more caring than men. They also desever equally oppptunities, why Ghanaians tall too much? Only in Ghana they don't respect wom ... read full comment
If wormen are worse then, your mother is also worse. Learn how to respect a woman.
women are aer more caring than men. They also desever equally oppptunities, why Ghanaians tall too much? Only in Ghana they don't respect women.
Isaac SA 8 years ago
Women around the world have make great impart towards the developmental project in developed countries. In soth Africa, women consider first in everything, that's why south Africa is the most developed country in Africa now. ... read full comment
Women around the world have make great impart towards the developmental project in developed countries. In soth Africa, women consider first in everything, that's why south Africa is the most developed country in Africa now. Power women lead great contries like Brazil, Gemany, soth korea and others are making huge mpart in their countries.
Why only Ghanaians are complaining when a women appointed as "just" EC chairperson? We must learn to respect a women because, they're much caring than men, and they also deaever qually oppotunities.
PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI- McA 8 years ago
WOMEN EMANICIPATION IN AFRIKA =
====================================
WWW.CUSTOMERMETRO.COM
==================================
AFRIKA MARKETING COUNCIL
======================================
AFRIKA KNOWLEDGE BANK ... read full comment
WOMEN EMANICIPATION IN AFRIKA =
====================================
WWW.CUSTOMERMETRO.COM
==================================
AFRIKA MARKETING COUNCIL
======================================
AFRIKA KNOWLEDGE BANK
======================================
PROFESSOR THOMAS KUBI(FOUNDER )
MCA INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE=
the truth 8 years ago
Well done Mr Prsident. Generally women are less corrupt in office than men. however some women can be terrible
Well done Mr Prsident. Generally women are less corrupt in office than men. however some women can be terrible
EBOLA 8 years ago
Charlotte should be a good example to women.those in ndc have let us down.its such same women trying to congratulate charlotte.so she must be carefull.god punish ndc
Charlotte should be a good example to women.those in ndc have let us down.its such same women trying to congratulate charlotte.so she must be carefull.god punish ndc
Lawyer Nyamekye 8 years ago
Great news coming from Africa. A giant step towards equality but competence must not be compromised. Congrats, Prez Mahama.
Great news coming from Africa. A giant step towards equality but competence must not be compromised. Congrats, Prez Mahama.
Mawuetornam Dugbazah 8 years ago
"This is what we are referring to when we talk about dismantling patriarchy. This is what requires men to disown this institution of patriarchy" (Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka).
Well, well...I am sure we have heard that one b ... read full comment
"This is what we are referring to when we talk about dismantling patriarchy. This is what requires men to disown this institution of patriarchy" (Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka).
Well, well...I am sure we have heard that one before. Is this not the same he-female philosophy that has brought the moral compass of nations like the US to a place of navigational dysfunction? If men or women are compromised, let them be "fixed". Your agenda of dismantling patriarchy is no more than the beginning of something worse: the unbridled anecdote of WOMEN'S LIB.
Nope. Not disowning patriarchy any time soon. Me and my house, we shall serve Yah, the Almighty!!
Charles Abenu 8 years ago
Hanna TeTe, Betty Mould Iddrisu,Vic Hammah, Lamptey are very bad ignominious examples of woman hood.
Charlotte must work hard to show she is not a piece of decoration
Hanna TeTe, Betty Mould Iddrisu,Vic Hammah, Lamptey are very bad ignominious examples of woman hood.
Charlotte must work hard to show she is not a piece of decoration
Ekow Samuel-NOISIEL-France. 8 years ago
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WELL COME ONE OF OUR GREAT IN OMAN GHANA, THANK YOU ALL AND GOD .
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WELL COME ONE OF OUR GREAT IN OMAN GHANA, THANK YOU ALL AND GOD .
......of the law, should feel free to go back to school. This jumping into court every time Mahama sneezes is ridiculous.
Appointing the Chairman and Members of the Electoral Commission
Columnist Asare, Kwaku S
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called upon the President “to seize the opportunity of the appointment of a new Chairman of ...
read full comment
Women should stop making noise about achieving gender equality in the world.It can never be achieved.And in Ghana women are not discriminated against when it comes to appointing women to higher positions.The most important th ...
read full comment
The president has no right under the constitution to appoint EC chairperson and its members. His powers under the constitution in this regard are perfunctory and not substantive like appointing his own ministers. His appointm ...
read full comment
STOP BORING OUR EARS, DIDNT BETTYMOULD DUPE GHANA OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FAKE JDGT DEBTS DESPITE BEING THE FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GEN?.....NDC HAS LOTS OF SUCH LADY VAMPIRES IN POWER AND IN OFFICE AND OUT OF OFFICE ...LIK ...
read full comment
Am sure last night you slept with a woman, How dare you denigrate women like that? You are pathetic.
If we are to list the number of men who have abused their positions in respect to the ratio of women, you will be amazed how stupid your comment reads to the sensible majority of the world.
Women are humans and can error, ...
read full comment
If wormen are worse then, your mother is also worse. Learn how to respect a woman.
women are aer more caring than men. They also desever equally oppptunities, why Ghanaians tall too much? Only in Ghana they don't respect wom ...
read full comment
Women around the world have make great impart towards the developmental project in developed countries. In soth Africa, women consider first in everything, that's why south Africa is the most developed country in Africa now. ...
read full comment
WOMEN EMANICIPATION IN AFRIKA =
====================================
WWW.CUSTOMERMETRO.COM
==================================
AFRIKA MARKETING COUNCIL
======================================
AFRIKA KNOWLEDGE BANK ...
read full comment
Well done Mr Prsident. Generally women are less corrupt in office than men. however some women can be terrible
Charlotte should be a good example to women.those in ndc have let us down.its such same women trying to congratulate charlotte.so she must be carefull.god punish ndc
Great news coming from Africa. A giant step towards equality but competence must not be compromised. Congrats, Prez Mahama.
"This is what we are referring to when we talk about dismantling patriarchy. This is what requires men to disown this institution of patriarchy" (Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka).
Well, well...I am sure we have heard that one b ...
read full comment
Hanna TeTe, Betty Mould Iddrisu,Vic Hammah, Lamptey are very bad ignominious examples of woman hood.
Charlotte must work hard to show she is not a piece of decoration
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WELL COME ONE OF OUR GREAT IN OMAN GHANA, THANK YOU ALL AND GOD .