i will agree with you completelly, our constutition is long over due for amendment and hope the all good citizens will give their voice to this great moverment, let all of us give our support.
i will agree with you completelly, our constutition is long over due for amendment and hope the all good citizens will give their voice to this great moverment, let all of us give our support.
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 10 years ago
Thank you Poozo for sharing my sentiments on this very important national issue. The late President tried to do something about it, himself being a law professor, but it was partial. I hope the current administration of Presi ... read full comment
Thank you Poozo for sharing my sentiments on this very important national issue. The late President tried to do something about it, himself being a law professor, but it was partial. I hope the current administration of President Mahama will give it all the serious attention it deserves. We cannot progress as a nation with a defective constitution.
Ada Boy 10 years ago
This is perhaps the most important work to appear in this forum.Ghana needs to reform the current constitution in all the areas mentioned in this piece.This is bitter political medicine,and it is a necessary reform to avoid a ... read full comment
This is perhaps the most important work to appear in this forum.Ghana needs to reform the current constitution in all the areas mentioned in this piece.This is bitter political medicine,and it is a necessary reform to avoid a permanet political damage to this promising nation.I am firmly in your corner,Kwesi.
Ada Boy 10 years ago
Zimbabwe,Kenya,Togo,Tanzania,Zambia,Guinea,Senegal,Ivory Coast,Mali, Niger,Nigeria and more,this is the untold story of the African appetide for complete power without any checks and balances.
Zimbabwe,Kenya,Togo,Tanzania,Zambia,Guinea,Senegal,Ivory Coast,Mali, Niger,Nigeria and more,this is the untold story of the African appetide for complete power without any checks and balances.
true men 10 years ago
yes we need change in constitution because j.j did it to protested itself, is about time to chang it.
yes we need change in constitution because j.j did it to protested itself, is about time to chang it.
Paa Kwesi Mintah 10 years ago
Aaaah, Cousin, Finally. You nailed it.
Finally, an article that's so well laid out beautifully. I stared at it for 20 minutes, wondering if this was he handiwork of God or my cousin.
Then I scrolled and stared at the ar ... read full comment
Aaaah, Cousin, Finally. You nailed it.
Finally, an article that's so well laid out beautifully. I stared at it for 20 minutes, wondering if this was he handiwork of God or my cousin.
Then I scrolled and stared at the article in such resplendent garb, without any threadbare purple listology. Yahooooooooo. Cousin gets it! Congratulations. This is one of your best so far. The easy to read presentation, short paragraphs loaded with facts, and bulleted points of order. Just beautiful. Just the facts.
You should see me blowing you air kisses before I take my knife to get down to business. So, here it goes:
Lie #1
"Our current 1992 Constitution is now moribund as it has been overtaken by events such as the rapid advances in ICT, among others. I think we need a review of our current constitution so as to redefine clearly the powers, functions and roles of the judiciary, executive and legislature"
The development of digital technology and its various manifestations in the form communication technology has absolutely no effect on our 1992 Constitution. The criminal code is still in force, whether by gun or stealing password to access a bank account.
What you really want to say is our Constitution needs amendment to redefine and include codes that reflect the 21st Century digital age. For example, illegally downloading a digital book could bear the same punishment as stealing a library book or from a bookstore.
Lie #2
"We need to critically examine the sort of relationship which should exist among the three arms or organs of government, and also to take a critical look at our local government structure, now called District Assemblies"
No. Unless spell out the current problems pertaining to the insubordination of say the judiciary to the executive, the govt structures as they currently stand are OK. Each has its role.
Concern #1
You wrote:
"Our local government system is woefully malfunctional and dysfunctional"
Which is which? "malfunctional" or "Dysfunctional"? Why double speak when one word will do? Why do stack words to provoke the ire of tautology?
You wrote:
"What we need is functional District Assemblies whose leaders are elected by direct universal adult suffrage"
Instead of saying "District Assemblies whose leaders are elected directly by their constituents" you try to be fancy schmaltzy by saying "Elected by direct universal adult suffrage". Haba, cousin. haba.
Here you're talking about districts which are themselves distinct legislative constituents and you mention "Universal Suffrage". That term can only be used in a larger context talking about Ghana.
You wrote:
"South Africa did it in 1995 and Kenya did it recently. Why not Ghana?"
Why not do a little research about Ghana before jumping into conclusion? Do you know that as recently as last year, there was a Constitution Review Commission in Ghana that traveled overseas to seek the opinions of diaspora Ghanaian residents?
Since you failed to even mention that in this article, I declare this well written piece of yours incomplete, just like your glass house.
I caught you jumping topics again. Why talk about electoral reform? What has that got to do with the constitution you're writing about?
Cousin, this is a better article and obviously an improvement over your long and endless narratives that often gets lost an Winneba junction.
Saaalute, from forehead to waist with a thundering and uproarious foot stomp, whaaaam.
Keep it up.
Kawaanopaado 10 years ago
Are the authorities reading this? Will they ever listen? Send copies to all of them and to parliament. Sensible talk.
Are the authorities reading this? Will they ever listen? Send copies to all of them and to parliament. Sensible talk.
Ato John 10 years ago
A good piece indeed, not to take the wind out of your sail though but I must say that Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has been saying this since 2008. That if the government is supposed to be decentralized then the DMMCES must be voted ... read full comment
A good piece indeed, not to take the wind out of your sail though but I must say that Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has been saying this since 2008. That if the government is supposed to be decentralized then the DMMCES must be voted to make them independent. It should not stop there Regional Ministers must as well be voted.
He also has said that the Judiciary should be separated from the Ministry of Justice to make it also independent as the Electoral Commission is supposed to be. Yes there must be reforms in the electoral process to make it strong and effective to supervised a clean and credible elections.
Parliamentarians should stay in parliament to represent their constituents and legislate as they were voted to do, not gallivanting around from cabinet meeting to board meetings and ignoring their mandate to serve.
And yes the constitution as written in 92 was written for the NDC, with the idea of perpetuating themselves on the people of Ghana hence the executive powers of the president. All this needs to be changed.
Today in Ghana there is only one party that can boost of having the caliber of people to lead Ghana through this period of change and that Party is the Progressive Peoples Party led by the Able Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.
AWAKE FOR GHANA BE PROGRESSIVE MINDED FOR GHANA.
The PPP 10 Point Agenda for changing Ghana.
Create a Just and disciplined society, with a passion for excellence with ten years and with science and technology as the cornerstone, become a higher level middle income country. This will include modernizing agriculture and providing a market to sustain our farmers and fishermen. And how are we going to achieve this?
Improve the Performance of Government by reforming state institutions, make government efficient and raise revenue to be able to pay public servant well to motivate them facilitate the work of the private sector and Ghanaian society in general.
Give power to the People for Development by sponsoring changing the constitution to enable the election of all District Assembly Members and District/Municipal/Metropolitan Chief Executives to ensure local accountability and rapid development. This we will do in one term. This has already be captured in the CRC report, which the ndc is trying to circumvent by nominating 5 to be screened.
Strengthen Parliament to perform its legislative duties effectively. Sponsor changing the Constitution to abolish the provision that allows Ministers of State to also serve as Members of Parliament. We believe that this move will make available for governance a large pool of qualified, experienced Ghanaian talent whose expertise is currently unused and therefore lost to Ghana. This we will aim to complete in one term of office. Concurrent with this objective will be a solid determination to give Parliament the facilities and resources needed to pass good laws and scrutinize the proposals submitted by the Executive effectively.
Provide Quality Education For Every Ghanaian Child. Standardize schools facilities from kindergarten to Senior High School with libraries, toilets, classrooms, kitchen, housing teachers, playground, etc: and Ensure free and compulsory education in public schools from kindergarten to Senior High School (including computer training). We will deploy an “Education Police” to enforce the compulsory aspect of our policy. An integral part of this objective will be an objective to significantly increase vocational training so that all school leavers gain employable skills. This will include a comprehensive sports program to instill discipline and promote better health.
Provide Energy for Industrialization and Rapid Development. Implement solutions with a sense of urgency to meet domestic needs for industry and domestic use and make Ghana a net exporter of power again in four years. To enable us achieve this objective, we will provide tax incentives to enable development of alternative source of fuel and power – bio fuels and solar. We aim to ensure that the contribution from alternative source of energy reaches a minimum of 10% of what we need in a decade. Harness our natural resources (particularly oil and gas) to ensure maximum benefit and prosperity for all Ghanaians.
Provide Better Healthcare and a Cleaner Environment. Ensure a cleaner environment free from preventable diseases like malaria, cholera and guinea worm. Provide affordable and accessible healthcare for all in every region. Ensure emergency care throughout the country to save lives. Our focus will be in the area of prevention where education is the key.
Attack Crime, The Drug Trade and Corruption. Attack crime, the drug trade and corruption aggressively using leadership by example, being modest in government, passing and implementing the Right to Information Bill and ensuring an independent prosecutors office exists separate from the Ministry of Justice. Strengthen the Narcotics Control Board to make it the agency responsible for fighting the drug trade with all the human, financial and other resources needed for success. Strengthen the Police Force by providing resource and training to fight crime.
Empower the Diaspora. Establish a Secretariat to cater for the needs of Ghanaians Abroad and the African Diaspora by June 30th 2013. Provide a support system to encourage re-entry, investment, safe and healthy vocations and transfer of knowledge and technology. Ensure full citizenship of Ghanaians Abroad so they can vote and serve in public sector positions.
Create Jobs. Use government’s purchasing power to ensure that we eat what we grow and use what we produce in Ghana. Improve Ghana’s business climate to enable investment in job creation so that our people will stay at home to help develop the country and its economy. We will be relentless in providing support to Ghanaian industry and our farmers and fishermen using low interest loans, technical assistance, tax incentives and priority access to the Ghanaian market. To accelerate job creation nationally, an inter-region highway will be built with the same high quality throughout the country to open up the country for investment and development.
Awake Ghana and Vote the PPP and Dr. Nduom to bring about Change, PROSPERITY IN PEACE.
Kojo T 10 years ago
CPP was and still the best. Constitiutional reforms must include the role of chiefs and land ownership How do we get to have commercial farms and have an agricultural revolution. There is $1 trillion in sales awaiting us on t ... read full comment
CPP was and still the best. Constitiutional reforms must include the role of chiefs and land ownership How do we get to have commercial farms and have an agricultural revolution. There is $1 trillion in sales awaiting us on the land and keeping the rural folks happy.Rural development cannot begin with no resource livelihood
Kobena 10 years ago
Country Population No of Registered Voters % of Population
Kenya*
41,609,728 14,362,189 34.5%
Ghana*
24,965,816 14,031,763 56.2%
Nigeria*
162,470,737 67,764,327 41.7%
Senegal*
12,767,556 5,023,349 41.5%
*Tanza ... read full comment
Country Population No of Registered Voters % of Population
Kenya*
41,609,728 14,362,189 34.5%
Ghana*
24,965,816 14,031,763 56.2%
Nigeria*
162,470,737 67,764,327 41.7%
Senegal*
12,767,556 5,023,349 41.5%
*Tanzania*
46,218,486 19,650,412 42.52
Kwesi,
That was a good article. It is obvious that our dear country Ghana is just not working! Our electoral system that is touted to be one of the best in Africa, is just bogus. The table which I have just borrowed from an article posted by Charles Amoo-Asante today, says it all. If Nigeria with its rather more credible local government system cannot register more than 42% voters, how can Ghana register over 56%? Senegal has probably the most enduring and well tested democracy in the whole of sub-Sahara Africa, but Senegal only registers 41.5% eligible voters . It clearly shows that we are only practising a fraudulent democracy in Ghana.
The reason our dear country is not working is clearly due to the winner takes it all concept, with its attendant “Us and Them” principle of filling all positions with “our people” no matter how rubbish they are. Then there is the political patronage. If a senior university lecturer cannot stand up to a ruling party and do what is right for the people of Ghana, what hope is there for the SHS graduate at the entry point to exact the right taxes for Ghana? If JSS children say openly that “our teachers collected monies from us to be given to the invigilators, so our teachers can help us”, in Tema, what hope is there for Mother Ghana?
From the president right down to the lowly cleaner, the poor Ghanaian taxpayer is not getting value for money! Just imagine a president who appoints a committee to probe an organization appointing another committee to review the committee’s report. Does it really take rocket science to determine that there were crooked deals at that ministry? It reminds me of a former boss who used to correct his own “corrections” three or four times before each letter was sent out, often resulting in the organization paying very heavy penalties.
Maybe we need a Federal System whereby those regions where about 10% of the people have something close to human conscience can take the lead and hopefully, drag the rest along with them into the 21st century.
EZEKIEL 10 years ago
Quite recently,Mills spent some Millions on the Constitutional REVIEW COMMITTEE.
The Findings AND RECOMMENDATIONS are there. Why DON'T we bring this out,DISCUSS Nationally and see where we go from there ??
WHY START another ... read full comment
Quite recently,Mills spent some Millions on the Constitutional REVIEW COMMITTEE.
The Findings AND RECOMMENDATIONS are there. Why DON'T we bring this out,DISCUSS Nationally and see where we go from there ??
WHY START another "crusade" after ALL that Mills spent on the COMMITTEE ???
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Good morning Kwesi. Hope you are doing well in Lusaka. I agree with you that the 1992 Constitution needs some urgent amendments. However, care must be taken regarding a number of issues. First, I am not sure what people reall ... read full comment
Good morning Kwesi. Hope you are doing well in Lusaka. I agree with you that the 1992 Constitution needs some urgent amendments. However, care must be taken regarding a number of issues. First, I am not sure what people really mean when they talk about the winner takes all being a problem. I am not a fun of coalition governments and strongly in favour of winner takes all form of government. However, winner takes all does not mean that competent and well qualified Ghanaians should not be appointed into certain positions just because they have sympathy for certain political parties, provided such professionals would not misuse their position to undermine the government.
Second, care must be taken in watering down the powers of the Presidency. A very weak presidency may also not be in the best interest of the state. We should remember that the presidency is also an institution that OBama said must be strengthened. The current problem stems from the weakness of the Legislature to hold the Executive to account for its actions and omissions.
Regarding the District Assemblies, I will recommend that all members are elected on party tickets as well as independents with no appointed members. Again, like in the UK, the Chief Executives should be civil servants/technocrats. The appointment is done openly through competitive selection. The party with majority members take leadership of the assembly and be responsible for policy decisions whilst the Chief Executives and staff will be responsible for delivery.
Kwesi, my apology, I accidentally posted this comment on Tony Pobee-Mensah's article in the morning. I just noticed it.
Ada Boy 10 years ago
The executive presidential system is the most favoured in Africa, the continent with the most wars,poorly governed and failed states,doesnt that tell you anything? Our single chamber parliament with a directly elected executi ... read full comment
The executive presidential system is the most favoured in Africa, the continent with the most wars,poorly governed and failed states,doesnt that tell you anything? Our single chamber parliament with a directly elected executive president is not a brainer,actually an embarrassment for those who thought it was a great idea.
Ato Kwesi 10 years ago
I would suggest that we try and perfect the devolution structure we now have rather "fly to others we know not of". The Kenyan system the writer cited is in crisis at the moment. It has brought with it tension within the whol ... read full comment
I would suggest that we try and perfect the devolution structure we now have rather "fly to others we know not of". The Kenyan system the writer cited is in crisis at the moment. It has brought with it tension within the whole devolution structure vis-à-vis parliament, the senate, governors, etc. Of course, there are areas in our 1992 Constitution which I believe we should seriously consider changing, e.g., the need to curb extensive presidential powers, weakness of parliament vis-à-vis the executive, separation of the portfolio of minister of justice from that of the Attorney-General, necessary for fighting corruption, etc.
K BOATENG 10 years ago
SO WHEN DID KWESI GET TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE FLAWS WITH THE CONSTITUTION, WHY DID HE NOT CALL FOR SUCH CHANGES DURING THE RULE OF THE NPP. AFTER ALL THE NPP PEOPLE-REFUSED TO HELP DRAW THE 1992 CONSTITUTION. ANYWAY THE NDC ... read full comment
SO WHEN DID KWESI GET TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE FLAWS WITH THE CONSTITUTION, WHY DID HE NOT CALL FOR SUCH CHANGES DURING THE RULE OF THE NPP. AFTER ALL THE NPP PEOPLE-REFUSED TO HELP DRAW THE 1992 CONSTITUTION. ANYWAY THE NDC WILL WIN THIS SC CASE HANDS DOWN, B'COS A GOOD JUDGMENT CAN NOT BE BASED ON ONLY A FEW SELECTED PINK-SHITS. HOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE OTHER POLLING STATIONS WHICH IS PART OF THE WHOLE TOTALITY OF THE POLLING STATION AND NOT JUST THIS SELECTIVE JUSTICE BEING PUSHED BY THE NPP
Kobena 10 years ago
You see everything in Ghana in terms of NDC-NPP colours. Why don't you present your own suggestions?
In any case, what prevented the respondents from tendering their own pink sheets from elsewhere? Why did you think they ... read full comment
You see everything in Ghana in terms of NDC-NPP colours. Why don't you present your own suggestions?
In any case, what prevented the respondents from tendering their own pink sheets from elsewhere? Why did you think they shied away from it? After all Tsatsu made reference to "irregularities in other constituencies." Why did he not pursue that argument? Case of scoring own goal?
km agyin 10 years ago
It's long overdue. The present constitution was crafted to suit only one person; the Presidency.
It's long overdue. The present constitution was crafted to suit only one person; the Presidency.
i will agree with you completelly, our constutition is long over due for amendment and hope the all good citizens will give their voice to this great moverment, let all of us give our support.
Thank you Poozo for sharing my sentiments on this very important national issue. The late President tried to do something about it, himself being a law professor, but it was partial. I hope the current administration of Presi ...
read full comment
This is perhaps the most important work to appear in this forum.Ghana needs to reform the current constitution in all the areas mentioned in this piece.This is bitter political medicine,and it is a necessary reform to avoid a ...
read full comment
Zimbabwe,Kenya,Togo,Tanzania,Zambia,Guinea,Senegal,Ivory Coast,Mali, Niger,Nigeria and more,this is the untold story of the African appetide for complete power without any checks and balances.
yes we need change in constitution because j.j did it to protested itself, is about time to chang it.
Aaaah, Cousin, Finally. You nailed it.
Finally, an article that's so well laid out beautifully. I stared at it for 20 minutes, wondering if this was he handiwork of God or my cousin.
Then I scrolled and stared at the ar ...
read full comment
Are the authorities reading this? Will they ever listen? Send copies to all of them and to parliament. Sensible talk.
A good piece indeed, not to take the wind out of your sail though but I must say that Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has been saying this since 2008. That if the government is supposed to be decentralized then the DMMCES must be voted ...
read full comment
CPP was and still the best. Constitiutional reforms must include the role of chiefs and land ownership How do we get to have commercial farms and have an agricultural revolution. There is $1 trillion in sales awaiting us on t ...
read full comment
Country Population No of Registered Voters % of Population
Kenya*
41,609,728 14,362,189 34.5%
Ghana*
24,965,816 14,031,763 56.2%
Nigeria*
162,470,737 67,764,327 41.7%
Senegal*
12,767,556 5,023,349 41.5%
*Tanza ...
read full comment
Quite recently,Mills spent some Millions on the Constitutional REVIEW COMMITTEE.
The Findings AND RECOMMENDATIONS are there. Why DON'T we bring this out,DISCUSS Nationally and see where we go from there ??
WHY START another ...
read full comment
Good morning Kwesi. Hope you are doing well in Lusaka. I agree with you that the 1992 Constitution needs some urgent amendments. However, care must be taken regarding a number of issues. First, I am not sure what people reall ...
read full comment
The executive presidential system is the most favoured in Africa, the continent with the most wars,poorly governed and failed states,doesnt that tell you anything? Our single chamber parliament with a directly elected executi ...
read full comment
I would suggest that we try and perfect the devolution structure we now have rather "fly to others we know not of". The Kenyan system the writer cited is in crisis at the moment. It has brought with it tension within the whol ...
read full comment
SO WHEN DID KWESI GET TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE FLAWS WITH THE CONSTITUTION, WHY DID HE NOT CALL FOR SUCH CHANGES DURING THE RULE OF THE NPP. AFTER ALL THE NPP PEOPLE-REFUSED TO HELP DRAW THE 1992 CONSTITUTION. ANYWAY THE NDC ...
read full comment
You see everything in Ghana in terms of NDC-NPP colours. Why don't you present your own suggestions?
In any case, what prevented the respondents from tendering their own pink sheets from elsewhere? Why did you think they ...
read full comment
It's long overdue. The present constitution was crafted to suit only one person; the Presidency.