SOME political party representatives in the Northern Region have stressed the need for a constitutional review that would limit the powers of the President in some areas of governance.
They noted, for instance, that Article 243 of the Constitution that gives power to the President to appoint District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the country with the approval of the assembly must be reviewed to allow for the election of DCEs.
That measure, they said, would reduce to the barest minimum, abuse of office by the DCEs and promote accountability.
The representatives equally stressed the need for a critical look at Article 78(2) of the constitution that does not place a ceiling on the number of ministers a President may appoint.
The representatives, Messrs. Amuda Kasim and Mohammed Sulemana, the Regional Secretary of the People’s National Convention(PNC) and the Tamale South Constituency Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) respectively, stated this during an interview with media practitioners in Tamale at the Community and District level Consultations of the Constitutional Review Commission for selected stakeholders in the Metropolis.
The stakeholders included meat sellers and butchers associations, security agencies, heads of departments, representatives of political parties, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and various interest groups.
Mr Kasim observed that the exercise was a step in the right direction since a significant number of residents in the region do not read and understand the constitution.
“Most people do not know their fundamental human rights and when their rights are infringed upon” he stressed.
He further explained that it was necessary for the constitutional provision regarding the appointment of DCEs to be reviewed, stressing that when they were elected by the people at the grass roots, it would promote accountability as the DCEs would be enjoined to perform creditably.
Mr Sulemana stated that the exercise was important as it would help to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the constitution.
He said there were several areas of the constitution that needed to be reviewed to, among other things, limit the powers of the President and the executive arm of government.
“The issue of appointment of DCEs by the President has been raised by many Ghanaians during many forums and this issue had also been the main concern of the NDC when it was in opposition” Mr Sulemana added.
According to him, when the President is given too much powers, a dictatorial Presidency might abuse the powers given it and so must be checked.
The Counsel to the Commission and Lead Researcher for the Northern Region, Mr Abdul Baasit Aziz, pointed out that a constitutional review had nothing to do with politics but to make sure that every one’s voice was heard loud and clear on the review.
Mr Aziz mentioned the need for independent funding for bodies like the National Commission for Civic Education, the Electoral Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as one of the concerns raised by the public.
He indicated that the Commission was tasked to ascertain and articulate the concerns of the public regarding the review, strengths and weaknesses of the constitution.
So far, the commission has visited nine districts of the region with 11 more districts to go.
The remaining districts are East and West Mamprusi, Yendi Municipal, West and East Gonja, Karaga, Nanumba South, Tolon-Kumbungu and Zabzugu-Tatale districts.
The consultation is expected to end on June 3, 2010.
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