Nkoranza stakeholders call for extension of Presidential term

Nkoranza (B/A), June 9, GNA - Participants at a stakeholders' forum at Nkoranza on the review of the 1992 constitution have called for the extension of the tenure of office of the President to five years. They said this would enable the government to perform to the expectation of the people.

The participants also suggested that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives should be elected so they would be accountable to their constituents. "The government and for that matter the ruling party can appoint about four candidates and allow the people to vote to elect their choice", they said. The participants deplored negative practices by some assembly members who "sell their conscience" and take bribes in order to confirm Chief Executives, noting the practice was a contributory factor to the incompetence of some chief executives. The forum also called for the review of the District Assembly concept to embrace partisan politics since some political parties had managed to turn it so.

Mr. Rolland Atta-Kesson, a legal counsel to the Constitution Review Commission, said public consultation on the review of the constitution was very important since the suggestions and advice from the people would promote participatory democracy and enhance the decentralization concept. Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, appealed to the people not to play partisan politics with the work of the commission and urged them to contribute their part in promoting participatory democracy especially at the grass roots. Okatakyie Agyemang Kudom, Omanhene of Nkoranza, gave the assurance that he would call a meeting of the traditional council and submit a memorandum on the review of the constitution.