News:
Majority Leader
February 23, 2023
Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Ghana needs a constitution that would frown on a democratic practice where after election the winner-takes-all and rather promote collaboration.
According to him collectiveness and consensus building in decision making at all levels of governance is the way to go in his remarks to launch the 30th anniversary of Parliament democracy which was done on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 on the floor of Parliament.
He further pointed out that, there is also the need to have a constitutional order that would ensure gender equity and, in many respects, equality to promote real development.
He disclosed that the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) has resolved that by 2025 all Parliaments in the world must comprise at least 30% of women, the CPA has adopted a similar position since last year, and queried how prepared the Parliament of Ghana is to align without the relevant amendment to the Constitution.
Again, “we need a constitutional order that will mitigate the winner-takes-all and prevent the do-or-die combat associated with our elections”.
We need a new constitutional order that will prevent the constant increase in the numbers of seats in Parliament. A new constitutional order that will put a cap in the number of Ministers of State; a new order that will ensure that the Speaker of the Parliament is a serving member of Parliament and that the Parliament of Ghana does not remain as one of only 9 Parliaments in the world whose Speakers are not Members of Parliament.
Additionally, a new constitutional order that will accord Parliament the financial independence that is required to enable Parliament stand on its own feet; a new constitutional arrangement that will liberate Parliament to perform its legislative functions without impediments, intended or unintended.
As well as, an order that will give birth to an economic paradigm which will engender wealth creation, entrepreneurial spirit and talent development as well as jobs for our people, especially, the youth with active partnership of Parliament.
A new constitutional order that will remodel the composition of the NDPC to purge it of the overly party-coloration and populate it with neutral citizens who will develop a real Long-Term National Development Plan around which parties would extract their manifestoes and therefore ensure that succeeding administrations continue the programs and projects started by their predecessors in order to prevent the wanton dissipation of the scanty resources of the country.
A new constitutional order where the Auditor-General would respect the fact that he is a tool for Parliament in the performance of Parliament’s oversight functions and therefore, cannot unilaterally exact and prosecute surcharges and, even before submitting his reports to Parliament, find a way to leak the recommendations to the general public.
A new constitutional order where assets declared by public servants can be traced and tracked by the Auditor-General for purposes of tax compliance and not to encourage a system where public servants declare assets that they do not have but assets that they hope to have.
A new constitutional order that will better define the role of the Council of State. Should it be transformed into a second chamber.. Should the composition be more democratic?
A new constitutional order where the appointment of officers of the Constitutional creatures, in particular, Electoral Commission, CHRAJ, NCCE, Media Commission, etc. would be subjected to the prior approval of Parliament, perhaps using absolute, not simple majority.
A new constitutional order where there will be no place for public tribunals. A new order where the qualification criteria to the apex court of the land would be enhanced and there will be a cap on the number of Justices for the Supreme Court.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com