DOES GHANA HAVE TWO LIVING PRESIDENTS: HOW MANY PRESIDENTS DO WE HAVE IN GHANA NOW?
According to Ghana General News of Wednesday March 19, 2008 (http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14597.asp), the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes has been sworn in as acting President of Ghana. The headlines read: Speaker is President
This followed the absence of both President Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama in the country.
Mr. Sekyi Hughes was sworn in by the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood in Parliament on Wednesday evening, after taking the Oaths of Office, Allegiance and Secrecy.
The report adds that President Kufuor will be away from March 19th to 22nd 2008, when he launches the Alliance for Africa Foundation in Paris, France. Whilst the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, left Accra on March 14 on a three-nation two-week investment tour. This, of course leaves Ghana with two living Presidents under oath.
Does the constitution really spell out that when the President of Ghana and the Vice-President are out of the country, Parliament or Supreme Court (or whichever authority is concerned) must swear in another officer? Since when did we begin swearing in Acting positions in Ghana? I thought it was obvious that the Speaker of the House would step in, as per the provisions of the constitution when both the President and the Vice were handicapped; but what about the swearing-in part while they both are not incapacitated? Especially in this modern day of technology when the world is just a global village.
Does it not make the President’s role out of the country illegal, if indeed, a new person is already sworn-in in his place? Who do we listen to now? It sounds like a coup d’etat to me. Hopefully this was a thoughtful plot not a window dressing by the constitution makers. Or is it that Ghanaians love ceremonies more that the actual performance of duty?
If a new President has to be sworn-in when the President is away, then why did Ghana never swore-in the Vice-President anytime the President was out of town. Was this something the Speaker of the House demanded and the whole House and Supreme Court consented or this was the intention of the constitution? An enquiring mind wants to know.
It is true that stretching this does not put food on the table, neither does it create employment for the people; though it does for the Speaker of the House, but I believe me these “unproductive” or frivolous ceremonies are getting overboard. Believe it or not each one of them comes with a monetary expense. As a nation, we need to have our priorities right. All these little things eventually matter as it derails attention from the big issues.
The act becomes more ridiculing when we read the report which admits that “Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Speaker who was presiding over the acrimonious debate on the purchase of two presidential jets bowed out of the House. Bidding the Parliamentarians good bye, Mr. Sekyi Hughes said "I will see you in May", amidst cheers from the members of the House. The House is rising for the Easter break and return in May.” (http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14597.asp).
According to the report, this is consistent with Article 60, Section 11 of the 1992 Constitution which mandates the Speaker to assume the position of acting President in the absence of the President and the Vice President Hopefully, the constitution is being applied to the letter. Assuming the latter is true then I dare say the 1992 Constitution of Ghana needs revision.
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