1992 Constitution gives too much power to the executive – Mould-Iddrisu

A former Attorney General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu has said the 1992 Constitution gives too much power to the Executive arm of government headed by the President.

In her view, this doe not promote checks and balance hence should be looked at.

Madam Mould-Iddrisu further described this as an unfortunate situation.

“In order for democracy to be sustainable you need to have the checks and balances. Our Constitution unfortunately lays too much power in the executive,” she said on the Sunrise show on 3FM Monday October 3.

She added “We are to pay some more attention to this constitution. The #AriseGhana seeking to have the constitution reviewed is a step in the right direction. They are right.”

Some persons in the Ghanaian society have call for an amendment of the Constitution.

For instance, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said if required, the 1992 Constitution should be amended to meet the needs of contemporary and future times.

He said this 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.

Mr Akufo-Addo further said that there are persons who seek to cut short the democracy of Ghana by pronouncing coups.

He said such persons either do not respect the Ghanaian people or fear that they will be rejected in an election hence calling for 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 was 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 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 short cut to office in power. Let us resist such persons for our common good.”