CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMISSION HOLDS REGIONAL LEVEL HEARINGS IN TAMALE

The Constitutional Review Commission with the mandate of reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Republican Constitution has held a two day regional level hearings and consultation meeting in Tamale.

The nationwide exercise was intended to make recommendations to government through a draft bill if necessary for possible amendments of the whole or portions of the 1992 Constitution which have outlived its usefulness.

Pertinent portions that were subjected to roundtable discussions included, the Executive powers or transition of executive authority, Legislative powers or transition of Parliaments, Legal sector issues and Decentralization and local governance.

Other important areas were the Independent constitutional bodies, the public services of Ghana, the traditional authorities, Tindanas (landowners), Queen mothers and human right issues including gender and access to justice.

Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister who opened the forum appealed to the participants to attach importance to the exercise by approaching the topics under discussion in a bipartisan manner.

He said: “I entreat all of you herein assembled to make your inputs in a bipartisan manner that will assist the nation to enrich the Bills to be amended to make the constitution a true living document that will not only stand the test of time but will also address your yearning needs to deepen our democracy and increase the tempo of socio-economic development in this country,”.

The Minister also said the exercise was in line with President John Evans Atta Mills’ call for a review of the 1992 Republican Constitution which was captured in his State of the Nations address during the early part of this year.

Mr. Mabengba reiterated the President’s call which read, “We believe also that a National Constitutional Review Conference is the surest way to ensure that our manifesto promises as well as those of some of the other political parties which require constitutional amendments see fruition in a consensual manner: Iin preparation towards this conference we shall this year establish a Constitutional Review Committee to collate views on amendment proposals and work towards the conference,”.

Professor Albert K. Fiadjoe, Chairman of the Commission said the Commission was committed to work in a free and fair manner devoid of politics and urged participants to place premium on the exercise.

He commended the people of the three Northern Regions for the level of enthusiasm attached to deliberations on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) which is awaiting Presidential assent and asked the participants to do same to the ongoing exercise.

Professor Fiadjoe announced that over 31,000 submissions had been received so far from across the country and Ghanaians in the Diaspora but complained that Northern Region recorded the lowest figure.

He therefore challenged the participants to improve the figure and called for greater participation of the youth, women and the destitute in the society whose collective input through the final documentations will help build a united and prosperous Ghana.