Revising the 1992 Constitution to Limit Executive Powers

Former Deputy Minister of State Abu Kansangbata

Former Deputy Minister of State Abu Kansangbata has appealed to former President John Dramani Mahama and the leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to undertake a fundamental policy change that will be in line with the expectations of many Ghanaians.

The appeal focuses on the need to review the 1992 Constitution, and in particular to limit the excessive powers of the executive branch and strengthen the separation of powers.

The purpose of this review is to ensure that Members of Parliament (MPs) can serve their constituencies more effectively by focusing on legislative and oversight duties rather than political appointments.

In a Facebook post, Abu Kansangbata stressed that MPs must put national interests above personal ambitions.

Kansangbata argued that amending the constitution to limit executive powers would lead to a more equitable distribution of power and thus improve accountability and governance.

Currently, MPs often run for leadership positions, which can distract them from their primary role of representing their voters in Parliament.

However, as Kansangbata notes, many MPs are more concerned with gaining political office than with defending the interests of their constituents.

He said this trend was detrimental to Ghana’s democratic ethos as it placed personal gain above the needs of the electorate.

Kansangbata also noted the historic case of a hung parliament following the 2020 general elections, which is the first such case in Ghanaian history.

It was expected that such a development would foster cooperation between political parties and ensure that both sides of the political spectrum would work together for the good of the country.

However, he noted that “the expected benefits have not yielded the expected results. Instead, partisan politics continue to overshadow parliamentary action, with minority members often failing to represent the broader interests of Ghanaians.”

He cited the adoption of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Act as an example of such a lack of coherence and called on MPs to be more sensitive to the needs of their constituents and engage in substantive dialogue before making important decisions.

Abu Kansangbata also commented on the recent protests against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, describing them as a manifestation of popular dissatisfaction with the government’s actions.

These protests, supported by a large part of the Ghanaian population, demanded careful and sensible management of the country’s resources. However, despite significant participation and strong support, the impact of these demonstrations was minimal.

Kansangbata questioned “the effectiveness of such actions and the role of parliamentarians in ensuring government accountability and responding to public concerns.”

He then raised the issue of politicization of student leadership.

He highlighted the crucial role that student leaders have historically played in defending the interests of youth and holding the government accountable.

However, he noted that this role has weakened as political affiliation increasingly influences student leadership.

In his opinion, such politicization “makes it difficult for student leaders to act autonomously and campaign for genuine reforms.”

Kansangbata stressed the importance of youth fulfilling their civic duties and standing up for their fundamental rights, adding: “By doing so, they can improve the prospects of future generations and ensure that the government remains accountable to its citizens.”

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