Let’s further discuss constitutional review process — IDEG

The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance, (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, has supported the call for further discussions and additional inputs into the constitutional review process.

He said the call had become imperative as threats of political violence were rising, compromising the peace, stability and unity in the country.

Mr Akwetey explained that  the proposals made by IDEG, the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) and its partners  to fill the gaps in the constitutional review and amendment processes would, therefore, strengthen national cohesion, promote inclusive governance and consolidate the peace in the country.

 Dr Akwetey made the call at a public forum held in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, on Monday.

The campaigns, dubbed “The National Interest Dialogue on the Multi-Party Governance (MPG) and Constitutional Reforms”, which are being organised by IDEG with sponsorship from STAR-Ghana across the various regions, aim at whipping up the citizens’ interest and support for the review process.

Dr Akwetey noted that the 1992 Constitution had worked for us for the past 22 years but there is the need for broader consensus on the ongoing review process to strengthen the constitution to address the numerous development challenges confronting the nation.’’

The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A. B. A Fuseini, in a welcome address, said the 1992 Constitution, which has stood the test of time, was drafted by the so-called "lower people" in the society but had helped to sustain the country's multi-party democracy.

He, therefore, called for the involvement of all segments of the society in the review process to make it smooth to ensure its acceptability.

The Chief of Sagnerigu, Sagneri-Naa Abdulai Yakubu, in his remarks, added his voice to the call for the opening up of the review process for further public debate to help address the political violence associated with elections in the country.

The Sagneri-Naa further expressed concerns about the monetisation of elections in the country, which, he said, was also a threat to multi-party governance in the country.

Some participants in the forum supported the call for the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to ensure a healthy competition and accountability at the local governance level.

The Chairman of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), Major General Nii Carl Coleman, earlier in his address, said the regional campaign series on the constitutional review process were to build consensus at all levels to enhance multi-party governance in the country, address the issue of political polarisation and the devolution of executive powers.

 Other  discussants at the forum were Messrs Kwesi Jonah,  a Senior Research Fellow of IDEG, and Emmanuel Bombade, the Director, West Africa Network for Peace, who were of the view that the election periods of the country should be compressed to make room for development.