By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Sakumono, March 10, GNA – Mr. James Enu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, has described President John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration of a constitutional review committee as a necessary step to ensure that Ghana’s constitution reflects the country’s current needs and challenges.
President John Dramani Mahama on January 30 inaugurated an eight-member Constitutional Review Committee to identify and address gaps and challenges with the implementation of previous constitutional review work done by the 2010 Committee.
Mr. Enu, who is also a lawyer, said the 1992 Constitution, which had been in effect for almost 33 years, had not undergone any major review, saying that it was important to amend certain provisions of the constitution to promote good governance, strengthen democracy, and address legal and political concerns that have emerged over the years.
“There are a few provisions in the constitution that have come under discussion in terms of how we can review it to fit our current circumstances. As a nation, as we grow, our circumstances change, and it’s therefore important to review our laws to reflect our hopes and aspirations as a country,” he stated.
Speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he commended the President for initiating the constitutional review process, stressing that it was a necessary step for national progress, and called on all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens, to participate in the review process.
The MP highlighted several key areas that the review might touch, which included whether to appoint or to elect Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
MMDCEs were currently appointed by the President and approved by local assemblies.
However, there has been an ongoing debate about whether these officials should be elected instead of appointed.
The MP also said the review might also address challenges around constitutional restrictions on dual citizens from holding certain public positions, explaining that this limitation prevented many people from contributing to the country’s development through public service.
“Once you have dual citizenship, you’re not eligible for certain positions, but arguments have been advanced to the effect that some of these people have ideas, acquired skills, and expertise that they can bring onboard to help the nation,” he stated.
He said that there had been continuous debates regarding whether elections for assembly members should be conducted along partisan lines, further noting that while the current system officially mandated non-partisan elections, in practice, many of the assembly members were politically aligned with specific parties, which was influencing their decisions and interactions within the assembly.
Mr. Enu stated that the ongoing review process might address this issue to ensure greater clarity regarding the elections of assembly members to determine whether assembly elections should remain apolitical or be officially conducted on a partisan basis, aligning with the political realities on the ground.
Another area the MP believed the review might touch on is the capping of the appointment of Supreme Court justices.
GNA
LS/GRB