GBA calls for a review of the 1992 Constitution
"There is room for improvement and we believe the time is now for a review of it to be done, to properly serve our aspirations, reflect the times and hopes at this critical stage of our democratic journey.”
The Ghana Bar Association has added its voice to the numerous calls made in recent times by a section of Ghanaians for a review of the 1992 Constitution.
They note that even though the 1992 Constitution may have served us well this far, it is still not perfect and thus needed a remedy.
“Nonetheless, even though the 1992 Constitution may have reasonably served us well thus far, it is still not the best and not without its peculiar imperfections that may need remedy. It can be better.
There is room for improvement and we believe the time is now for a review of it to be done, to properly serve our aspirations, reflect the times and hopes at this critical stage of our democratic journey.”
Speaking at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Association, the president, Yaw Boafo Acheampong thus called on the government to implement the Fiadjoe Commission Report or set up a new constitutional Reform Commission.
He further entreated the government to urgently push through its efforts into passing into law the Draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill that will deal with violations of the law by public officials by way of giving effect to Chapter 24 of the Constitution.
By this, the GBA also made a request for the Bill to meet international best practices to ensure real transparency, greater accountability, and maximum management of public funds.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The GBA leader emphasized the need for the government to have the dispute settlement chamber of the AFCFTA situated in Accra as the Secretariat.
Even though Section 114 of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010(Act 798) requires the government to establish an ADR Centre, it has not materialized since 2010 thus the GBA is calling upon the government to as a matter of urgency, see to the establishment of the center.
Further to this, Mr. Boafo also made a suggestion for a mandatory requirement to be put in place for disputes relating to commercial agreements that have to be performed in Ghana within a certain threshold to as a rule be settled at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre when fully set up and operational.
