Constitution review won’t transform Ghana without value-based leadership – Prof. Agyemang-Duah

Former United Nations Senior Governance Adviser Prof. Baffour Agyemang-Duah contends that constitutional reforms alone are insufficient to resolve Ghana's governance issues. In an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News, Agyemang-Duah emphasized that the reforms must be complemented by a concerted effort to foster strong national values and ethical leadership.

While acknowledging the importance of constitutional reforms, he argued that unless Ghanaian leadership and citizens embody the necessary values to uphold good governance, such reforms would yield minimal impact on the lives of Ghanaians.

According to Agyemang-Duah, the persistent challenges of corruption, abuse of public office, and weak governance in Ghana stem more from the erosion of character and civic responsibility than from deficiencies in the legal framework. He asserted that without a collective commitment to core values, legal changes and constitutional reviews would fail to engender the desired transformation.

"If a nation doesn’t have core values that it cherishes, no matter what laws you pass, no matter how many constitutional reviews you undergo, we’re not going to change anything," he remarked. He further cautioned that merely possessing academic qualifications does not equate to possessing the integrity and ethical standards required for effective leadership.

Highlighting the disconnect between education and character formation, Agyemang-Duah lamented that many individuals involved in law-making and public administration, despite their high level of education, are implicated in corrupt practices and misconduct. He urged policymakers to reevaluate the educational system to prioritize character cultivation alongside academic pursuits.

He suggested that schools should instill values such as honesty, accountability, patriotism, and respect for democratic principles in students to ensure that future leaders stand out from the present generation of leaders.

Agyemang-Duah stressed that unless Ghana confronts and rectifies this "crisis of values," ongoing constitutional and legal reforms are unlikely to yield the transformative changes many citizens anticipate. He warned that the younger generation risks perpetuating the failures of the current leadership, as they are likely to mirror the shortcomings of their predecessors.

"This generation may be failing the younger generation, and if they fail us, it is because they will be reflecting our failures, not their own failures," he cautioned. He concluded by emphasizing that reinforcing the nation's moral foundation is imperative for Ghana to translate constitutional reforms into tangible improvements in governance and the quality of life for its citizens.