The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to launch procedures to execute recommendations made by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) approximately 10 years ago.
The NDC made the demand in response to allegations that President Akufo-Addo has said that he has no interest in adopting the CRC’s findings since the process of revising the Constitution was faulty.
President Akufo-Addo is also alleged to have said that it is not the responsibility of a sitting President to start a review of the 1992 Constitution, and therefore showed little interest in the Commission’s proposals.
However, in a news conference on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, the NDC criticized the President’s comments.
Nana Ato Dadzie, Chairman of the NDC Electoral Reform Committee, told the press that the “President’s position cannot be correct on both counts.”
“This matter has been subsequent by the Supreme Court in the case of Asare (No. 2) v. Attorney-General [2015-2016] 2 SCGLR 899 in which the Court, by a 5-2 majority ruling, decided that there was nothing wrong with the procedure adopted by His Excellency the President John Evans Atta Mills to have the Constitution amended.”
“We would urge His Excellency the President to accept the interpretation of the Apex Court (Supreme Court) as the correct interpretation of the Constitution and the law, and proceed to urgently activate the processes for the early implementation of the constitutional reforms as set out by the constitutional reform committee on 20th December 2011″, Nana Ato Dadzie added.
In addition, the NDC has offered 34 suggestions to assist improve Ghana’s election system.
Mr. Ato Dadzie took advantage of the occasion to provide an update to the media on the progress of the plans.
He said that his committee has met with over 10 organizations and institutions to inform them of the ideas and seek their feedback.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Organized Labour (other than the TUC), Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Diplomatic Community (US Embassy/UK High Commission/Canadian High Commission), the Diplomatic Community (EU Delegation and the Member States), Christian Leaders, and Muslim Leaders were among the groups the party met with.
Background on work of the CRC
On January 11, 2010, John Evans Atta Mills, the president at the time, inaugurated the CRC to review the 1992 Constitution with the Constitution Review Commission of Enquiry Instrument 2010 (C.I. 64), in accordance with Article 278 (1) of the Constitution, which grants the President powers to appoint a Commission of Enquiry into matters of public interest
The CRC was charged with gathering Ghanaians’ opinions on which sections of the 1992 Constitution needed to be amended.
In carrying out its mission, the CRC traveled across Ghana, holding consultative forums with Ghanaians from all walks of life.
It also received many memos outlining which parts of the Constitution needed to be changed and even how the CRC should perform its business.
In addition, it hired specialists to study the Constitution and offer suggestions for changes.
Presentation of report
After two years of work, the CRC finalized and submitted its report to the government on December 20, 2011, after analyzing all submissions and obtaining expert views from both local and foreign experts.
Following receipt of the report, the government, in accordance with Article 280 (3) of the Constitution, gazetted a White Paper on June 15, 2012, outlining its views on the commission’s recommendations.
Following the publication of the White Paper, the government established the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) on October 2, 2012, to conduct further research and interact with people before implementing the White Paper’s proposals.
Meanwhile, a decade after the CRC delivered its findings, the administration has failed to initiate the constitutional review process.
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