Month: September 2024

Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, Alhassan Bashiru Fusein is advocating for the 1992 Ghanaian Republican Constitution to be amended and given the President of Ghana the latitude to determine where he picks his Ministers from; a departure from Article 78 clause (1) “Majority of ministers of state shall be appointed from members of Parliament”.

On the sidelines of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) stakeholders’ engagement, on the validation of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report of the 1992 constitution, in an interview with ABA Fuseini, he pointed out that Presidents of Ghana come to office with visions to be actualized.

And the Constitution of the land should not tie him down as to where he picks his Ministers from. “We should grant the President more leverage to look at the entire country, if he can get full complement of his ministers outside parliament that are committed, competent, loyal, and dedicated to him to attain his vision”.

He affirmed that he is in favor of an amendment of the 1992 Constitution that takes away majority of his ministers coming from Parliament House.

He was however, quick to point out that, he is not opposed to the President selecting some of his Ministers from Parliament, and that restricting the President to get Majority of his Ministers from Parliament hinders him from getting competent one from the vast human resources.

Again, you might have more Ghanaians who are outside Parliament who can contribute to the Country’s progress, but the constitution says majority of the Ministers should come from Parliament House.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that another aspect of the Constitution that should be looked at is this whole thing of winner takes all. “For example in a National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, the president should not depend on only NDC people for appointment. If there are people of other political parties and even not only political parties who are Ghanaians out there with the requisite competence, and the commitment to contribute to the progress of this country, why not”.

“I believe in the incoming President John Mahama administration, he has been there before as a pragmatic president who is amendable to such ideas, he would tape the expertise of many Ghanaians outside the normal political partisan thing”.

He asserts that where our country is today, we need all the needed human resources to move the country forward.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA), Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Ghana’s eighth legislature can’t be described as a hung Parliament.

According to him those describing the current eighth Parliament under the fourth Republic as a hung Parliament, “with the greatest respect are not well informed”.

He made this known at a stakeholders’ engagement organized by (MoPA) over the weekend that seek validation of the Constitutional Review Commissions (CRC) report of the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana.

He further pointed out that in a hung Parliament, there is rotation of leadership and in a hung parliament with the numerical strength they are split equally in terms of numbers.

But in the case of Ghana currently, it is one hundred and thirty-seven (137) plus one (1) independent that formers the Majority, while the Minority side has one hundred and thirty-seven (137).

“So, with the one hundred and thirty-seven (137) plus one or half is still the Majority”.

Again, in a hung Parliament you will have rotation of leadership where the Majority in the life span of the Parliament say four years, you have one side producing the Majority Leader for two years then the Minority Leader will serve as Majority leader for the remaining two years for the life span of the Parliament to end, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has dismissed assertion that a lot cannot be done when it comes to constitutional amendment in an election year as Ghana heads towards its Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December 7, 2024.
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According to him as a practicing parliamentarian in leadership positions for continuous twenty-seven years, having had the opportunity to straddle the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature, whilst dealing with the Independent Constitutional Bodies, Political Parties, CSOs, FBOs, I have sufficient acquaintance with the Constitution and thus properly primed to advocate for its review.

He made this known in his open remarks at the stakeholders’ consultation on the validation of the Constitutional Review Commission report of the 1992 Republican Ghanaian constitution.

Over the past six years the ministry has engaged a cross-section of the Ghanaian society in respect of the usage and application of the 1992 Republican Constitution and its effect on ensuring efficient and effective governance that yields the “blessings of liberty, equality of opportunity and prosperity” for all the Ghanaian people.

The diverse stakeholders that the ministry has engaged include the Attorney-General (representing the Office of the President), Ministers of State, His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufour, (former President), the Office of former President John Dramani Mahama, Parliament of Ghana, and Members of Parliament, the Judiciary, the Independent Governance Institutions, Civil Society Organisations, Think Tanks, the Academia, Chiefs, Employers, Employees, Organised Labour, Faith-based Organisations and the general public.

These people and bodies recognize the strides the country has made since January 1993 when the country experienced a rebirth under the Fourth Republican Constitution. However, they are unanimous in their observation that the citizenry is not having the optimum benefits of the dividends of democracy.

As such, they variously concluded that there is an urgent need to revisit the 1992 Constitution with a view to improving the delivery of governance to upscale a well-thought through structured, sustainable national development which will secure improvement in the living conditions of the Ghanaian peoples.

In the year 2010, President E A Mills in fulfillment of his campaign promise, set up the Prof. Fiadjoe led Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

Among other things “the Commission found that the 1992 Constitution is a resilient foundation for good governance in Ghana. It has been the basis of the flourishing institutions under the Fourth Republic and has potential for guiding the evolution of the nation’s institutions towards peace, prosperity and a good life for its people. Under that Constitution, [as at 2010] five (5) successful presidential and parliamentary elections have been conducted, two of them involving a transfer of power from a ruling party to an opposition party. However, the Commission found that there are many areas of the Constitution and of constitutional practice that need to change for the better.”

Should we amend a few “priorities” provisions including the amendment provision itself? Or should we amend them one after the other – till when? Should we follow the CRIC procedure where they proposed one single referendum for a yes or a no vote? For all 40 plus entrenched clauses and 50 odd entrenched clauses?

Sovereign national conference – will produce a report that will be reduced into Bills. This will be presented to the President for his input and be part of his handing over to the next government. The new Parliament in 2025 will have the responsibility of birthing the amended Constitution, the responsibility of how a new Constitution should be crafted.

Can we only amend? How about when we want to enact a new Constitution? Should we make from the past amendment proposal which I consider as tinkering, and be bold to step out to promulgate a new Constitution? He stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu has said one of the major problems of Ghana in the 1992 Republican constitution is the principle of winner  takes all.

According to him, if ‘the winner takes all’ challenge is properly resolved, it may help keep the beauty and cohesion Ghana is enjoying democratically; hence the country should take a serious look at it.

He made these remarks at a stakeholder’s engagement on the validation of the Constitutional Review Commission report of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which is on the theme; “Building Consensus and Promoting Ownership for the Review of the 1992 Constitution” organize by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA).

The Tamale South lawmaker proposed proportional representation for Ghana as it exists in South Africa, adding that this can help solve, “all the tensions we see leading to the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ghana”.

He opined that the whole idea of winner takes all leaving the opposition parties without anything or no role to play has not helped, adding that there are Ghanaian citizen who may never ever get recognized because they do not align to any political party or share the same ideology with political parties. “We need to agree among ourselves even if we bring it to a national discussion what should we do with the winner takes all principle in the 1992 Constitution”, he noted.

He further, pointed out that this time around he hopes lip service will not be paid with the constitutional review and amendment of the 1992 Constitution, as we already lost an opportunity in the last John Evans Atta Mills/John Dramani Mahama administration.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) will hold a stakeholders’ consultation for the review of the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana.

MoPA constituted a Constitutional Review Consultative Committee (CRCC) to review the report of the 2010 Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), its accompanying white paper and consider other provisions that might lend themselves to possible reviews.

The two days engagement is to enable the Ministry follow up on the efforts started in 2010, appraise itself with matters that have emerged thereafter and identify specific provisions in the 1992 Constitutions that could engender debate for the review of the 1992 constitution.

Ghanamps.com

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and MP for Ketu North James Klutse Avedzi, has expressed regret over the growing phenomenon of some people in Traditional Universities and Technical Universities who benefit from scholarships to study outside the country only to refuse to return and serve the country.

He made this remarks during a press briefing at Ho, the Volta Regional capital where PAC held its Zonal Public Hearing to consider the Financial Report of the Auditor- General for the year ended 2023.

In furtherance, on the issue of the Technical Universities “the challenge that we have seen over the years which still remains, is on this sponsorship giving to lectures who go outside to do their PHD, who are being sponsored by Government, train them and even pay them and expect them to come back to serve but they rather remain in their various countries of study without coming back” he pointed out.

Additionally, he said “We have been asking management of the Universities to devise an effective guarantor system so that if the people don’t return, the guarantor can be made to refund the money”.

He explained that previous Auditor’s reports made revelations where some lecturers of these Universities who were beneficiaries of these scholarships refused to serve their bond adding that most of them don’t return to serve their motherland.

The Chairman also expressed worry over issues of unearned salaries by people who either have passed on or vacate their post but their salaries not deleted on the pay roll over time. He said the Auditor’s report also detected a situation where a Lecturer at the Accra Technical University received double salary from KNUST for about thirteen months and warned that the situation constitutes a crime that will be dealt with.

The Committee has probed the report of some District Assemblies, Technical Universities, Colleges of Education and Senior High Schools from four Regions including Volta Region, Oti Region, Greater Accra and Eastern.

However, the entities that appeared before the PAC today included Koforidua Technical University, Accra Technical University as well as a number of Colleges of Education from the four regions and senior high schools from Oti.

Ghanamps.com

Mr. Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament for Okere and former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development has constructed and donated a five-bedroom mission house for the Mabang Presbyterian church in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti region.

Mr Botwe, who is a staunch member of the Presbyterian Church, was born and bred at Mabang, attended the local Presbyterian school and church, where he was imbibed with the ‘Presbyterian discipline’.

At the inauguration and dedication of a five-bedroom mission house, Right Reverend Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said God was just and faithful to hear anybody who called upon him in times of need, and thus called on Christians to trust and obey God for the answers to their prayers.

Right Rev. Kwakye, thanked Mr Botwe for remembering his roots and recognizing the contributions and efforts of the Presbyterian Church in his upbringing.

He said Presbyterian schools, which emphasized discipline in the training of children, had helped raised many people in all fields of endeavor, and would continue to do that for the glory of God.

Mr Botwe, on his part, said the Presbyterian training which was ingrained in him by his parents had equipped him with the skills and attitude of discipline, humility, and hard work, which had been part of him and opened many doors for him in all his endevours and career, adding that, that was the best legacy his parents left for him and his siblings.

He called on Christians to embrace and practice their teachings for salvation and blessings from God.

Mr Botwe pledged to support the ongoing expansion project of the local Presbyterian Church and presented a cheque for an amount of GHc 50,000.00 to support the project.

Reverend Joseph Kristensen Yeboah, the Bechem District Minister of the Presbyterian Church, thanked Mr Botwe and other members of the church for their contributions towards the improvement of infrastructure and other needs of the church.

Charles Tawiah/Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South Dakoa Newman has embarked on Community outreach activities by providing free health screening at Bubiashie Atico station.

As part of the health screening there was check for blood levels, blood pressure, malaria, dental health, and blood sugar levels.

A number of the constituents were also registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme making it easy for them to freely access healthcare delivery in the country.

According to the MP these are initiatives aligned with her commitment to promote good health practices in the various communities in the constituency.

Ghanamps.com

As the debate ranges on, whether Ghana has a founder or founders, Member of Parliament for Ellembele, Emmauel Armah Kofi-Buah has said if Dr. Nkrumah were alive today he would have said he was not interested in those titles.

According to him this debate that has erupted was from the people of Ghana speaking because, they understand the historical facts.

“They know those who stood up and those who were fighting against Dr. Nkrumah when he said, we needed independence now; we know those who wrote to the British stating otherwise and we know what the CIA classified documents are saying”.

The deputy Minority Leader further pointed out in an interview that anyone who has studied events leading to the independence of Ghana, “yes we had so many people who contributed but guess what, who wears that crown is Dr. Nkrumah; he paid the price for it. He suffered for it when he got independence, he continued to suffer and we betrayed him and sent him out”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com