Togbe Afede Backs Calls For Review Of Ghana’s Constitution: “Our 1992 Constitution Is Not Helping”
- Agbogbomefia of Asogli Togbe Afede XIV has made calls for the review of the constitution under the next government
- Togbe Afede XIV said the 1992 constitution of Ghana grants too much power to the Head of State
- The Economic Fighters League noted to YEN.com.gh that Ghana needed to go the extra mile to replace the 1992 constitution
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Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, has challenged the next political administration to consider a review of the nation’s constitution.
Addressing the grand durbar of the 2023 Asogli Yam Festival, Togbe Afede said the current constitution had granted the President a biased power scale.
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He also complained that the current constitution is not helping in the corruption fight.
“I admonish that our next government, just like Atta Mills did, take the review of our Constitution seriously.”
In the past, people like renowned businessman Sam Jonah have called for a review of the constitution to reduce the raft of Executive powers granted to presidents under the current dispensation.
However, some like the grassroots political movement the Economic Fighters League have demanded a new constitution altogether.
The group's spolesperson, Nii Ayi Opare told YEN.com.gh said the most recent attempt to review the constitution back in 2011 was nothing to write home about
He cited portions of the constitution like the indemnity clause as putting governments in a tight spot because of the legal implications of criminalising all beneficiaries of coups in Ghana's history.
But Opare noted that this section was one that needed changing.
"Some people are placed above the law and are not equal before the law. That itself is an affront to democracy.”
"If we claim we are a democratic nation, and we believe in the principles and ideals of democracy, there is no way we can continue to uphold the 1992 constitution."
Mahama pledges to review ex gratia
YEN.com.gh reported that former President John Dramani Mahama wants to review the ex gratia and other benefits of Article 71 office holders.
He said if he gets the nod to return as president, he will continue the review process of the 1992 Constitution started under late President Atta Mills.
His comments follow a debate about ex gratia payments after Togbe Afede returned over GH¢360,000 paid to him as a parting gift for service as a Council of State member.
Akufo-Addo supports calls for reviews
President Akufo-Addo has in the past said he is a firm believer in the calls for the 1992 Constitution to be reviewed to deal with gaps.
The president said the constitution is a living organism and must grow to deal with the dynamics of the time.
His comments at an event to mark 30 years of the Fourth Republican Constitution follow similar calls by experts in the past.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
