FGJ commends government for white paper on CRC

The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) on Monday commended the Government for accepting 90 per cent of the recommendations contained in the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) Report.

In addition, it welcomed the announcement by government to establish a five-member committee to facilitate the process of amending the 1992 Constitution.

A statement issued by Dr Clement A. Apaak, Convener FGJ, and copied to Ghana News Agency said, "Clearly, the commitment of government in this historic national exercise must be commended. This commitment is manifested in the good sense of government in educating the media, the National Commission for Civic Education and the Regional Houses of Chiefs on the report…"

"However, we wish to encourage government to reconsider the remaining 10 per cent of the recommendations made by the CRC, especially the inclusion of the National Development Plan."

It called on the Council of State and Parliament to help ensure the inclusion of the rest of the recommendations because of the fidelity of the report, the rigorousness of the research methodology, the breadth of the recommendations – covering all aspects of the good governance as well as very difficult subjects such as ethnicity, partisan politics and corruption.

"As an organisation interested in good governance and working to entrench our democratic culture as a nation, the FGJ must express its deep disappointment with the dorsal posture of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding this exercise occasioned by the constitution based on which our current system of governance is predicated."

It called on the NPP to reconsider its stands that the CRC report was not a priority and to join in the call for a 100 per cent acceptance of the recommendations.

The FGJ believed that the recommendations would improve the Constitution, a living document, and called on all political parties, professional organisations, civil society organisations, community groups, religious organisations, labour unions and youth groups to support the call for the inclusion of all the recommendations made by Ghanaians at home and abroad.

"It is our opinion that the CRC has managed the review exercise fairly, credibly and transparently. The good people of Ghana have expressed their views on the operation of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of the Constitution," the statement added.**