Ghana’s 1992 constitution does not meet the needs of Ghanaians – Prof Baffour Agyeman Duah
Prof Baffour Agyeman Duah former United Nations Senior Advisor has opined that the three-decade-old 1992 constitution of Ghana does not meet the need of Ghanaians.
He posits that the constitution concentrates democracy at the top and not at the grassroots level.
His thoughts on the current 1992 constitution come after President Akufo-Addo has said if required, the constitution should be amended to meet the needs of contemporary and future times.
The President made this comment in his address on the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Constitution on Thursday, April 28.
“The Constitution is a living document and so whenever circumstances require, we should be prepared to make the necessary amendments to affect the needs of contemporary and future times,” he said.
He further said that there are persons who seek to cut short the democracy of Ghana by pronouncing coups.
Mr Akufo –Addo said such persons either do not respect the Ghanaian people or fear that they will be rejected in an election hence calling for the overthrow of an elected government.
Mr Akufo-Addo urged all Ghanaians to reject such persons.
“Several attempts to take Ghana down the path of multiparty democracy were met with stiff opposition and cynical response.
“They will rather have authoritarian rule foisted on the citizens claiming Ghana was underdeveloped and we needed to get things done in a hurry.
“They claimed that democracy was cumbersome and will divide Ghanaians along tribal lines. However, the word was widespread and unanimous to have a decade-long ban on party-political activities imposed in 1981 lifted and the return to multiparty democracy established. The Ghanaian people wanted a living condition of freedom where there was respect for individual liberty,” he said.
He added, “Simply because they have no respect for the Ghanaian people, they are either unwilling to subject themselves to the open scrutiny of the Ghanaian people or because they know that that they will be rejected by the Ghanaian people.
“Thus seeking a shortcut to office in power. Let us resist such persons for our common good.”
Sharing his thoughts on the President’s submissions, Professor Agyemang-Duah said on the News 360 on TV3 Thursday, April 28 that ” in my humble onion [the Constitution] does not meet the needs of the people.
“For a constitution to meet the basic needs of the people that constitution should be seen in action at the grassroots level. Democracy is best when it emerges from the bottom to the top. what we have today, is a democracy that is a top-down democracy.”
