Heed calls for Amendment of the Constitution – Former Law Dean to Gov’t
She notes that per the advent of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) and the current geopolitical dynamics affecting countries, it has become necessary for the government to consider the numerous calls for amendment.
A former Dean of the KNUST Faculty of Law, Professor Lydia Nkansah has called on the Government to heed the various calls by sections of the populace for the amendment of the 1992 Constitution.
She notes that per the advent of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) and the current geopolitical dynamics affecting countries, it has become necessary for the government to consider the numerous calls for amendment.
There have been numerous calls in the past and present by academics, professionals, and well-meaning Ghanaians for the amendment of the 1992 Constitution.
While some are calling for the overhaul of the entire Constitution, some also pinpoint sections of the document which need urgent attention relative to an amendment.
However since the setting up of 10 member Constitutional Review Commission under the Erstwhile Mills/Mahama NDC Government in 2010 and the subsequent submission of its Report in 2011 and the release of the Government’s White paper, little has been heard from the Government’s side relative to the calls for amendment of the Constitution.
Therefore speaking at the 9th Jurists Confab at the University of Cape Coast on the theme; Consolidating Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Respect for the Ballot in an era of Good Governance,” Prof Nkansah further said that even though most Ghanaians accept and can attest to the fact that our constitution needs a sort of amendment, this position has been greatly affected by political posturing and positions.
Additionally, she blamed successive governments for their lack of commitment to the process even in light of the glaring need for a review of the Constitution.
Moreover, the former KNUST Law Dean outlined areas such as the “Winner take all system; Executive dominance of Parliament; Reluctance of government to support state Institutions deliver on their mandate, etc,” as some grey areas in the Constitution.
She however urged citizens not to underrate the thinking that informed the nation’s constitutional structure that has sustained us this far.
