Kwesi Pratt blames political leadership for Ghana’s constitutional crisis

Ghanaian journalist and political analyst Kwesi Pratt Jnr has criticized Ghana's constitutional crisis, attributing it to poor political leadership and state institutions implementing the Constitution in a way that benefits elites and marginalizes the poor. Pratt argued that no amendments to the 1992 Constitution would suffice if politicians and officials failed to change their self-serving ways.

He emphasized that while the Constitution needed some improvements, its effectiveness depended on the behavior of individuals, particularly those in power. Pratt's remarks were made during the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture series at the University of Cape Coast, which addressed constitutionalism, development, and Pan-Africanism.

In his lecture, he stressed that true constitutionalism involves government under law, accountable leadership, institutional limits, protection of rights, and meaningful citizen participation. Pratt cited Nkrumah's approach to constitutionalism and the need for reforms to be nationalistic, development-driven, and responsive to people's needs.

He also highlighted Nkrumah's perspective that the true test of a constitution is whether it transfers real authority to the people, leading to the introduction of multiple constitutional amendments in Ghana, culminating in independence. Pratt cautioned against the Preventive Detention Act of 1958, which allowed the state to detain individuals without ordinary criminal trial, stating that such a "grave power" must be accepted with responsibility for its human consequences.