Ghana: Beyond “Free, Regular and Credible Elections”

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• Atigsibadek 12 years ago

  Awesome and very apt, devoid of political bias. If Ghana will be then we must be absolutely committed to its every step as a people regardless of who is in or out of power. If policies die with change of governments then we a ...
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  Awesome and very apt, devoid of political bias. If Ghana will be then we must be absolutely committed to its every step as a people regardless of who is in or out of power. If policies die with change of governments then we are doomed as a nation. Stephen Atta Owusu, God bless your kind and may many see your article and may the paradigm shift begin.

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• Hamid 12 years ago

  Oh, ghanaweb!!! This is clearly the best article of the day but look at what people are reading and commenting on?
  
  This is an article that goes into the heart of our current constitution and warns the opposition NPP that ...
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  Oh, ghanaweb!!! This is clearly the best article of the day but look at what people are reading and commenting on?
  
  This is an article that goes into the heart of our current constitution and warns the opposition NPP that they have a duty to ensure Ghana does not slide into a situation which allows the ruling govt to do what it likes.
  
  KUDOS, whoever wrote this piece. I wish I had the time to discuss more to the specific issues it raises - especially that aspect of choosing the executive from members of the legislature, something that is not found in the US and British systems that our present constitution takes after.

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• Kwasi K 12 years ago

  Stephen, you really touched on a very important issue- the indemnity clause. I hope the leaders are reading.

  Stephen, you really touched on a very important issue- the indemnity clause. I hope the leaders are reading.

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• Sunkwa 12 years ago

  There's no credible constitution in the world with an 'indemnity clause'--this must be done away with--and let the chips fall where they may be--I truly endorse the article's use of the phrase'legalized dictatorship'---it is ...
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  There's no credible constitution in the world with an 'indemnity clause'--this must be done away with--and let the chips fall where they may be--I truly endorse the article's use of the phrase'legalized dictatorship'---it is my believe that any incumbent Head of State must have no business electing----Regional Ministers, Local& Metropolitan Executives such appointments must be effected through elections at the metropolitan & local levels as was the case in by-gone days---we must be careful not to strengthen the hand of would-be Head of State.

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• Opanin 12 years ago

  Few years ago, the NDC government of the late Prof Atta Mills set up a Constitutional Review Committee to review the 1992 Constitution at a cost that baffled many Ghanaians because the Committee took liberty to travel to all ...
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  Few years ago, the NDC government of the late Prof Atta Mills set up a Constitutional Review Committee to review the 1992 Constitution at a cost that baffled many Ghanaians because the Committee took liberty to travel to all hamlets around the world to seek the views of Ghanaians abroad.
  
  I wonder if Mr S Atta Owusu had the opportunity - where ever he was - to make inputs into the review. many well reasoned Ghanaians see the 1992 Constitution as a document prepared to ensure the safety and comfort of the PNDC leaders, especially Rawlings. It is apt to describe it as 'legalized dictatorship'
  
  Whether the present NDC government will see it as a necessity to revise the recommendations of the CRC is anybody's guess.

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• EFO NANA 12 years ago

  The constitution was written to favour Rawlings. It must be rewritten.

  The constitution was written to favour Rawlings. It must be rewritten.

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• ghanaman 12 years ago

  Bro Steve has demonstrated in the above piece a rare hue of objective thinking and sharp analysis. The conclusion he arrives at for Parliament to initiate a process to prepare a re-write of the Constitution is both welcome an ...
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  Bro Steve has demonstrated in the above piece a rare hue of objective thinking and sharp analysis. The conclusion he arrives at for Parliament to initiate a process to prepare a re-write of the Constitution is both welcome and long overdue. Time for more voices to join the call and ensure we have the Constitution we deserve. Bravo, Bro Steve!

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• KojoT 12 years ago

  I commend and congratulate you. Your article is brilliant. It is informative, educative, objective and devoid of partisan affiliation unlike most of the write ups we read here. Bravo and more of those. I will look out for you ...
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  I commend and congratulate you. Your article is brilliant. It is informative, educative, objective and devoid of partisan affiliation unlike most of the write ups we read here. Bravo and more of those. I will look out for your articles and I believe many honest, open minded and "PATROITIC" Ghanaians will do same. No wonder there are only a few of us commenting. Most will not have the thought to read since it contains nothing they can pounce on and attack indiscriminately. Good job.

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• Hamid 12 years ago

  That is the problem of ghanaweb, oo, Kojo T. Good articles go unread and un-commented. Today, all the regulars are there reading Sangapaare's silly and badly written article on where Akans come from. They cannot comment meani ...
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  That is the problem of ghanaweb, oo, Kojo T. Good articles go unread and un-commented. Today, all the regulars are there reading Sangapaare's silly and badly written article on where Akans come from. They cannot comment meaningfully on the constitutional issues taken up by the present writer that are far more important to us as Ghanaians than where Akans come from.

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• SUMBRUNGU 12 years ago

  Spot on. A report of the commission set up by former prez Mills to review our constitution has been finalised with the majority of their recommendations receiving government's favour. This should hopefully give some dynamism ...
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  Spot on. A report of the commission set up by former prez Mills to review our constitution has been finalised with the majority of their recommendations receiving government's favour. This should hopefully give some dynamism to our constitution to respond to our present and future aspirations and challenges.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  If we consider that democracy and its practice is not an exact science, and that different systems of government have their advantages and disadvantages, you seem to be unhappy with the way our current constitution is crafted ...
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  If we consider that democracy and its practice is not an exact science, and that different systems of government have their advantages and disadvantages, you seem to be unhappy with the way our current constitution is crafted on a number of matters including e.g. an executive presidency. What is not clear to me is what exactly you would rather prefer. In the 2nd Republic constitution, we made away with the executive presidency and introduced the UK system with a Prime Minister, Dr K A Busia, and a 'ceremonial president' President Akufo Addo. The PM was an elected parliamentarian and things were done in the house where he had to account for issues and regularly answer questions etc.
  
  I am not too convinced that that system worked for Ghana either, nor am I impressed with the current 'crop' of parliamentarians and leaders in the British Parliament which is in my view poor and sometimes a farce. MPs, ministers and the PM can come and 'lie' or distort facts and figures, refuse to answer questions or divert issues and a lot of childish arguments take place. That is not to say work is not done in the house.
  
  In any democracy (irrespective of structure), we rely mostly on the work of parliamentary committees (and in the case of the US, Congress and the Senate) and in the latter, we have seen the "grid lock" that has made the US difficult to govern and it has also shown how 'weak' the president can be, despite the impression that in him lies a lot of power which he can wield at any time. I believe Ghana is in a somewhat similar situation although I would much prefer what we have in Ghana and expect that MPs will do their work in committees in the House and also properly take the government (and president to task) on issues of governance and their stewardship. If all this is done in a proper manner with the interest of the nation foremost, and not done just for party political narrow interests and an intent to make the nation "ungovernable", I believe much can be achieved.
  
  I also rather favour the 'Nkrumah philosophy' of having e.g. a 7 or 9 year development plan which intersects parliaments, but I would prefer such plans to be debated and voted on in the House, to allow for committed resources ring-fenced and for all to take credit for success rather than the current 'winner takes all mentality' and cheap partisanship.
  
  In a nutshell, I believe that the 'apparent failure' of our democracy or system of government is NOT the fault of the constitution per se, but rather the PERFORMANCE of the individuals Ghanaians have voted for, to represent them. I suggest you explore the issue of performance of our parliamentarians and if you created a 'league table of scrutiny' and followed them all up for e.g. 6 months, you would be amazed at what you find, and may be we can put pressure of them to learn their responsibilities and to make our constitution work better.

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• The Eye Germany 12 years ago

  Kudos,Steve! As usual and characteristic of you,this is a great educative, and enlightened article, devoid of wearing any political party colours. Bravo! I will like to state that,like some politicians of the time of fighting ...
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  Kudos,Steve! As usual and characteristic of you,this is a great educative, and enlightened article, devoid of wearing any political party colours. Bravo! I will like to state that,like some politicians of the time of fighting for self-Government,I believe and will continue to fight and advocate for a FEDERAL SYSTEM (CONSTITUTION) for Ghana. All progressive countries in the world,a clear example being Germany, where I have lived for the past 27 years have federal system of administration.
  
  I have always been saying this and I will continue to say it always- a less formal educated politician,but was full of native wisdom and had political suave,suggested that from Gold-Coast- to Ghana,the country should adopt federal form of governance. Among other reasons tht he assigned,Baffour Okyeame Akoto of blessed memory,warned that we should avoid a unitary system where all Ghana's wealth would be placed at a central place. He predicted and has been vindicated now that when such a thing happens, the leader and ruling class of the day may choose to spend Ghana's money recklessly without using judiciously to cater for the prior needs of the people. Do we go too far to see and realize the wisdom of what this illustrious son of the land was saying in the 1940s/50s if compare what the yet to be legitimize/removed Prez. Mahama & NDC rulers are doing. For example, in President/NDC Govt. era of "Domso-Dumso" and water challenges, we hear they are planning to sponsor some self-seeking and fraudulent so call pastors to Israel just to fool about but in the hidden agenda of praying for Ghana. Let us be honest to ourselves,are we really save as a nation under this dispensation? Let's seriously debate the merits and the demerits of federal system of governance for Ghana: when that happens it will at get rid of this indemnity clause nonsense in our current unitary constitution. Over to you fellow Ghanaians!

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• YAFFA YAFFA 12 years ago

  YOU ARE SO GREAT. KEEP ON GIVING US MORE OF THESE TO CHANGE HONEST, GOD FEARING. PATROTIC GHANAIANS WHO HAVE OUR DEAR NATION AT HEART.BRAVO. KUDOS

  YOU ARE SO GREAT. KEEP ON GIVING US MORE OF THESE TO CHANGE HONEST, GOD FEARING. PATROTIC GHANAIANS WHO HAVE OUR DEAR NATION AT HEART.BRAVO. KUDOS

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• Koffi 12 years ago

  Well written and really insightful! Keep up the good work!

  Well written and really insightful! Keep up the good work!

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• Dr. Richard Owusu 12 years ago

  This article is excellent and takes up a very pertinent issue to our development.
  I hope the political class come together to agree on a new consitution that is really democratic and supports the country's development.
  Good ...
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  This article is excellent and takes up a very pertinent issue to our development.
  I hope the political class come together to agree on a new consitution that is really democratic and supports the country's development.
  Good job, Mighty Man!

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• Koo Nimo 12 years ago

  Our dear homeland Ghana needs to be preserved and developed for posterity.Atta Ayekoo.

  Our dear homeland Ghana needs to be preserved and developed for posterity.Atta Ayekoo.

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• Seth, USA 12 years ago

  Steve, this article is timely. I hope our politicians will seize on this opportunity to rewrite our constitution. We can utilize the experiences of Kufour, Rawlings, Kofi Annan, and of course other Ghanaians while they are al ...
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  Steve, this article is timely. I hope our politicians will seize on this opportunity to rewrite our constitution. We can utilize the experiences of Kufour, Rawlings, Kofi Annan, and of course other Ghanaians while they are alive.

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