Don't cherry-pick the constitution reform report, committee heads warn. The Chairperson of Ghana's Constitution Review Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, wants a full national debate on all their proposals together. He spoke on a JoyNews program called Newsfile after the committee gave its report to President John Dramani Mahama. Their ideas include making the presidential term five years instead of four and lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates to 30. They also want to totally separate the executive and legislative branches, which would stop Members of Parliament from becoming ministers. Other suggestions are limiting election campaigning to 120 days before the vote, putting a maximum number on Supreme Court justices, and capping parliamentary seats.
Professor Prempeh argued that the report needs to be looked at as one complete package to help build national agreement. He said everything should be discussed together to find a common position. A committee member and former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, echoed this warning. She cautioned the Executive branch against selecting only the parts it likes. Osei stated the committee worked hard to fix current problems without making new ones. She emphasized that picking and choosing recommendations would be a major issue.
Professor Prempeh argued that the report needs to be looked at as one complete package to help build national agreement. He said everything should be discussed together to find a common position. A committee member and former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, echoed this warning. She cautioned the Executive branch against selecting only the parts it likes. Osei stated the committee worked hard to fix current problems without making new ones. She emphasized that picking and choosing recommendations would be a major issue.
