Ghana Adopts strictly British Parliamentary Electoral System ....

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-Ghana Adopts strictly British Parliamentary Electoral

System with a Ghanaian Twist





By yao fiagbeto





The Concern Citizens Democratic Alliance for Ghana supports those who are


advocating constitutional amendment to Ghana’s Constitution. We salute the


minds and dedication of men and women who formulated, debated and promulgated


our constitution before it became the law of the land.





But as we often say in Ewe “ngor gbee azor li le” that is why we must revisit


our Constitution and give it a makeover. Amending the Constitution now is an


acceptable way of incorporating current national realities into the Constitution


to correct current eccentric and tackling future challenges head-on. We all can


attest to the fact that the base of Ghana’s Constitution is partially British


and partially American Constitution, which in our view is a good thing. But the


time has come to examine our democratic guide (The Constitution) and decide


whether to continue using both or one system for effective Ghana rural and urban


governance.





The British Constitution in the 12th century gave birth to a very unique

parliamentary system which produces only the best rooted constituent


intelligentsia well vested in their local and national way of life. The


parliament comprises representatives from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales


with different political persuasions and the party which wins the majority of


seats forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister. The Prime


Minister chooses about 20 MPs from his party to become the cabinet of ministers.


Each minister is responsible for a particular area in the government, and the


second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and a


shadow cabinet. The leader however, is a well recognized position in the House


of Commons. MPs are elected either by general elections for five years or when


a member died or retired.


The system is so simple but dynamic, solely base on community politics and very


cost effective allowing even the poorest but intelligent person who is well


vested and visible in the community to stand for parliamentary election. Money


plays little role in British politics compare to other democracies like what we


are experiencing right here in Ghana.


Whereas, the American Constitution is based on a national government of the


federations of fifty states that comprises the United States of America. It has


three distinct branches of government, a legislature, and executive and a


judiciary. These branches and their various powers are defined in the U.S.

Constitution; the legislature has two bodies, Congress with hundred elected


members, two from each state serving seven years and House of Representatives


with elected members from congressional districts based on population serving


two years. The American national government is based on influence and power.


Money, television, billboards, and diverse form of advertisement, play very


important role in American National Government elections. The National


Government requires two separate campaigns for American Presidential and


parliamentary elections. This system only strives on Money, Influence, Power,


and Elegance.


It is therefore clear that our constitution is a very sophisticated and


intellectual peace of political work document based on two powerful systems of


governance. Such a merger deserves enormous applause, ironically very confusing


and frustrating to the ordinary fellow Ghanaian (farmers, fishermen, market


traders, workers, civil servants etc). The evidence is vividly on the ground


especially in our rural, urban ghettos, and uncompleted buildings.





Therefore, we the CCDAG believed the honest way forward must be one system based


on the British parliamentary governance, whose electoral campaign is far less


expensive takes only three weeks from start to finish focusing on only one


election to accomplish two goals. Electing MPs and the Executive branch the

Prime Minister. The American System is an expensive electoral venture designed


only for the powerful rich elites. The American system requires two special


electoral campaigns with a heartbreaking and distressing expenditure.





For that matter we are proposing the following for Constitutional Amendments to


the Constitution of The Republic of Ghana that:


1. Chapter Eight- The Executive (1). There shall be a President of the


Republic of Ghana who shall be the Head of State and Head of Government and


Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana.


Should be amended to read


1. Chapter Eight- The Executive (1). There shall be a general election and


the party which wins the majority of seats forms the government and its leader


becomes Prime Minister who shall be the Head of State and Head of Government and


Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana.








We hope our humble observation and request will generate a debate that will


expose majority of Ghanaians in making informed decision on our electoral


process and constitutional amendment. A well-versed choice based on the British


electoral and parliamentary system with a Ghanaian twist which allows only one

electoral campaign, less expensive, producing executive and legislature


results. Though this is going to be a blow to current political hierarchies, we


pray the love of country and her future generations should be more important to


them than their current political positions and support and work tirelessly on


this proposed Ghana Constitutional Amendment.





Thank you all and God bless you! God bless our Home-Land Ghana. Long Live Ghana!


Enyonyoge! Eba hi, Allah ki yayie! Ebe yeyie





Yao Fiagbeto





PRESIDENT& FOUNDER-CCDAG. BOX 222,JONESBORO, GE0RGIA. 30237


Rutherglen - Glasgow, Scotland. U.K. North-West Legon, Kwabenya. G/A Ghana.


P.O. BOX 3O, Atito via Anloga. V/R Ghana


ccdaghana@yahoo.com, gbenufia@yahoo.com, hedevodu@yahoo.com


nagoash@yahoo.com