Constitutional review in the offing

Constitutional review in the offing…As Majority Leader points to serious constraints facing Parliament
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, May 17, Ghanadot - Majority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West, Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin has stressed the need for a constitutional review having identified a lot of challenges which are impeding the smooth operation of the constitutional system in the country.

He said after 16 years in practice as a law maker, it had become clear to him and his colleagues from both divides that there is the need to have not just an amendment of some articles but “a complete overview and overhaul of our constitution”.

The leader of Parliament explained that articles for consideration for the review are so many that there is the need to do a review and not just an amendment of the Constitution.

“ I am all for it” he disclosed recently in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital and hinted that he intends to set the agenda for a new constitution when he delivers a paper at the impending Ghana Academy of Arts and Science Forum during which he would point out the challenges to the 1992 Constitution and suggest a way forward.

According to him his presentation would ignite a public debate and provide the opportunity for the President to push for an agenda of establishing a Constitutional Review Commission to collate views of Ghanaians on how best to conduct a referendum to vote for a new Constitution for Ghana.

Hon. Bagbin noted that Parliament as it is was not a separate arm of government. “It is an adjunct to the Executive arm because majority of the ministers of state are Members of Parliament who come under the command and control of the President “he explained.

As a result the loyalty and commitment of these ministers go to the Executive than Parliament thus taking away a lot of steam and influence from Parliament.

Substantiating this constraint, Bagbin indicated that the law making function bestowed on Parliament is impaired because bills become law only when the President, who has the power to disagree with Parliament, has assented to them or make recommendations for consideration by Parliament.

He said because there a marriage between Parliament and the Executive and because the President controls the majority, it is influenced by the President’s position n to accept the views of the president and not that of Parliament.

“We think that this is not good for democratic development” and the earlier the two institutions are linked and government strengthened to perform its functions of not just as law makers but also oversight functions of scrutinizing and holding the executive including the President to account for their stewardship to the good people of Ghana.

He complained that the quality and quantum of delivery of parliamentary work is acutely affected by the lack of requisite number of personnel while machinery and equipment are absent which delay the printing of the Hansad and Committee reports and which situation exerts a lot of pressure on a few people.

The Parliamentary leader also mentioned that Parliament does not even have “a library worth its salt” where information can be stored and requisite books and research materials can be stock for use by Parliamentarians and to be able to put out good arguments on the Floor of Parliament”.

He also complained of the non-existence of Committee rooms where committee members can sit and deliberate and record and work on issues.

The leader of the House, however, indicated the emergence of some assistance saying that the Parliamentary Centre of Canada and the Ghana Parliamentary Centre led by Dr. Rashid Dramani had acquired and offered a place at Osu for the Public Accounts Sub-Committee and other committees.

He also mentioned that the GTZ is supporting Parliament to rehabilitate GNTC building close top the International Press centre in Accra to provide more rooms for Committees.

He said in spite of the inflow of these assistance, “it was very slow and not large quantities” and called for the government’s commitment to push faster in addressing these constraints “ else it would take a longer time for Ghana to catch up with other countries that were hitherto behind Ghana.”

Ghanadot