CPCR Demands Major Shake-Up Of Presidential Powers

The Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR) has urged a substantial overhaul of Ghana’s governance structure, advocating for stringent restrictions on presidential powers and robust constitutional protections to curb the accumulation of authority within the Executive branch. During a stakeholders’ workshop in Sunyani, the coalition of civil society organizations outlined the need for Ghana’s constitutional reform process to transcend the amendment of specific provisions, delving into pivotal issues concerning power distribution, institutional autonomy, and accountability under the Fourth Republic.

Organized by the National CSO platform on Constitutional Reforms alongside Citizens Watch Ghana, the workshop aimed at amplifying citizen engagement while elucidating the committee’s recommendations and their impact on governance and democratic evolution in Ghana.

Central to the Coalition’s apprehensions is the President’s vast appointment authority. The CPCR advocates for the adoption of transparent, competitive, and merit-based processes for appointing key positions within independent and oversight bodies, rather than entrusting such decisions primarily to presidential discretion. This demand emerges as the Government prepares to implement measures stemming from the review of the 1992 Constitution.

President John Dramani Mahama has already announced the formation of a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to evaluate the Government's stance in tandem with the suggestions put forth by the Constitutional Review Committee. The CPCR also challenges the practice whereby Members of Parliament concurrently serve as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, or Regional Ministers, calling for a clearer constitutional demarcation between the Executive and the Legislature, citing that lawmakers should refrain from occupying roles that could impair the independence of their legislative duties.

Moreover, the coalition advocates for a constitutional ban on MPs serving on the boards, governing councils, and procurement committees of publicly funded institutions, a move that could reignite discussions on conflicts of interest and the interplay between political office and public administration.

The coalition further proposes a substantial shift in the selection of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). While it endorses the democratic election of local chief executives by citizens, it opposes presidential nomination, shortlisting, and vetting by Executive entities. Instead, the CPCR wishes to see local MMDCE elections being open and unfiltered, enabling qualified citizens to vie without navigating a gatekeeping process overseen by the Executive.

This stance is anticipated to provoke significant national discourse given that the Government’s reform proposals already encompass the election of local chief executives. President Mahama had previously highlighted this as a significant proposal derived from the review process. The CPCR also seeks a thorough reevaluation of the financial relationship between the central government and local assemblies, proposing that the entirety of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocated to assemblies be disbursed directly to them without any deductions or conditional commitments from the central government.

Additionally, the CPCR opposes the ongoing allocation of a portion of the Common Fund to Members of Parliament, arguing that such practices blur the lines between the legislative responsibilities of MPs and the executive’s development functions within District Assemblies.

The issue of public officials' remuneration is another potentially contentious area. The CPCR backs the establishment of an Independent Public Emoluments Commission to ascertain salaries and benefits across the public sector, including those of the President and Article 71 officeholders. Although the Government has expressed support in principle for this proposal, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission reported that the Government has formally accepted the recommendation for an independent commission to determine the pay and benefits of Article 71 officeholders.

However, the CPCR’s broader concern extends beyond individual salaries to whether Ghana’s constitutional framework adequately safeguards against the concentration of political power. The coalition urges the Government, Parliament, political parties, organized labor, and civil society to engage in meaningful negotiations prior to the transformation of reform proposals into legislative measures, emphasizing the goal of achieving a constitutional settlement that garners widespread national support rather than one dictated predominantly by the current administration’s preferences.