A member of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC), Dr. Gheysika Agambilla says, the President will no longer be restricted to appoint majority of ministers from Parliament if their proposed amendments are passed eventually.
[contextly_sidebar id=”r2TmLS35ieffS4DO1dwDxKH4T754oAWU”]Several governance analysts have described the legislature as weak and ineffective because, they believe it is under the thumb of the president.
But in an interview with Citi News, Dr. Agambilla explained that their recommendations if passed will cure this and other problems in Ghana’s governance system.
“Among the constitutional changes that have been proposed which will be part of the bill is that, when those changes are effected, the president would not have to select at least 50% of his ministers from Parliament,” he noted.
He added that “there were changes especially regarding the selection of the chairman of the Electoral Commission. Those changes would have required that you get a two thirds vote in Parliament to confirm the chairman of the EC.”
Limit on creation of constituencies
Meanwhile, speaking in a separate interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dr. Agambilla added that there would also be a limit on the creation of constituencies.
“Also there’s going to be cap on the number of constituencies. The number of constituencies have been growing since 1992. It’s a big burden on the public purse.”
Dr. Agambilla further explained that the new amendments would also put a “cap on the number of members at the Supreme Court, right now there is no cap, it just says there would be at least 9. So if you have a mischievous president he could pack the Supreme Court to do his bidding. So there’s a cap, its about 15.”
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana