The Dean of the
Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso has
deviated from calls for an amendment of portions of the 1992 constitution.
He is calling
for an outright rewriting of the entire constitution.
Prof.
Antwi-Danso holds the view that a new constitution written by a committee so
established will repair any defects that currently plague the country’s
democratic dispensation.
But in a sharp
rebuttal, a Council of State Member, Sam Awuku Okudzeto said, “It will be
better to correct the defects in a leaking roof than collapse an entire
building to rebuild.”
According to
him, the call for the current constitution to be disposed of will not court
public support but rather an amendment of portions considered inefficient will
be acceptable by the masses.
Former Speaker
of Parliament, Rt Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, in his reaction, indicated the
current constitution has very vital aspects that have upheld the country’s
republican democracy over 30 years.
Reacting to
contrary views expressed over his call, Prof. Antwi-Danso) said “In our current
situation, I was happy to see the hung parliament, but it has not served its
purpose because everything has been reduced to partisanship”.
He argued that
the “patchworks” being advocated may lead to future chaos.
“I believe that
if we have something new (new constitution), politicians will jump to it to
serve a better purpose,” he stressed.
On proportional
representation, he believes it will be the best for a true representation of
the people in parliament, but fears implementing it may be fraught with
challenges.
Speaking at a
seminar organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the Deputy
Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Dr Bossman Asare held a strong view
on the subject.
He argued that
proportional representation will give a true representation.
He noted that
the practice of majoritarian representation has not served the people well as
it turns out to leave some sensitive groups out.
The event was on
the theme: A seminar on reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution: towards
constitutionalism – reflections and refractions.
SOURCE: CITINEWSROOM.COM
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