Former Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has raised concerns about aspects of Ghana’s proposed constitutional reforms, particularly provisions relating to the judiciary and the independence of state institutions.
Prof. Oquaye questioned the fairness of the process for removing a former Chief Justice, arguing that the Constitution should provide a clear avenue for appeal.
He said although the procedure for the removal may have followed the steps prescribed by the Constitution, the absence of an effective right of appeal raises concerns about justice for the head of the judiciary.
According to him, “even though the steps followed the right steps, the Constitution is wrong, because it doesn’t establish justice to the head of the judiciary.”
Speaking at a legal conference organised by advocacy group Smart Generation Governance Hub (Smart Genz), Prof. Oquaye also cautioned against excessive political influence in the appointment and disciplinary processes of key state institutions.
He stressed the need for safeguards to protect the independence of institutions such as the judiciary from political interference.
Former Ghana Bar Association President, Dr Yaw Boafo, on the other hand, said he was not opposed to the proposal to increase the presidential term from four to five years.
He said Ghana could even consider allowing a president to remain in office for as long as the citizenry desired, provided the country had a robust electoral system that genuinely reflected the will of the people.
“If we have strong institutions, independent Electoral Commission that is not going to be manipulated, then if the people of Ghana want a president to stay in office for 20 years, there is nothing wrong with it,” he said.
For his part, Executive Director of Smart Genz, Rev. D.K. Odai Appiah, urged young people to take an active interest in the constitutional amendment process, saying decisions taken today could affect their lives for decades.
He questioned whether extending the current four-year presidential and parliamentary term to five years would address Ghana’s governance challenges.
Rev. Odai Appiah argued that the focus should instead be on creating systems that enable governments to work efficiently and deliver development, rather than simply extending the period elected officials remain in office.
