Amend Constitutional Recommendations – Group To Government
Election Community of Practice and Learning ECOPL, a non-governmental organization challenged government to ensure the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission is fully amended in a holistic and transparent manner to the aspirations of Ghanaian people.
The group accordingly, would create opportunities to agree on broad consultative framework to ensure government’s consideration and implementation of constitutional reforms.
At a press conference in Accra, the Convenor of ECOPL, Eyram Bashan, urged government to officially declare the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission CRC and the current membership of the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee.
According Bashan, government must come out with an official notice on the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the CRC of which over 90 percent were accepted by government in a white paper issued in June 2012 as well as the roadmap for the implementation of the recommendations.
The convener noted that the constitution embodies many features that seek to foster accountable, open, transparent and participatory democratic governance stating that there are however, some deficits.
Further more, she pointed out that the constitution have concentrated too much power in the executive arm of government that undermines the system of checks and balances; denied marginalized groups true participation in governance affairs in the country.
Madam Bashan explained that this have weakened and impeded the effectiveness of oversight institutions like Parliament and other independent constitutional bodies.
This she noted has translated into a failure of formal democratic institutions to give voice to the poor and other marginalised groups.
“Ghanaians deserves a good leadership that will put country first, not party first” stating that the usual political posture that gives prominence to party agenda is a great disservice to many non-partisan Ghanaians who vote for positive change and progress.
She therefore called on the media to help in reviving the conversations around the implementation of the constitutional review recommendations by informing the public through their news and programming.
Madam Bashan also called on civil society organisations by engaging and mobilising citizens to pull ardent support for the constitutional reforms process.
Election Community of Practice and Learning, ECOPL, is a coalition of 44 highly recognised civil society organisations, media houses, activists, independent constitutional bodies and political parties working together to positively mobilize and influence critical stakeholders within the governance landscape.
It’s aim is to harness and share lessons on emerging issues including but not limited to general electoral management and reforms in Ghana.
By: Iddrissu A. Jara
