UE/R: RISE-Ghana, Others presented proposals to the Constitutional Review Committee in Bolgatanga.

BY: RAYMOND WEGWI

The people of the Upper East Region took their turn to present their views and proposals to the Constitutional Review Committee in Bolgatanga at the Akayet Hotel. Many individuals, Chiefs, Institutions , Associations and Organizations like, RISE-GHANA, BONABOTO, TEERE, NORPRA ,Ghana Federation of Disabled and some who have already written to the Committee were given an opportunity to highlight their consents in their written proposal to them .Some of the issues raised were many and varied, which includes election of Metropolitan , Municipal and District Chief executives, MMDCEs, scrapping of article 71 office holders law,  the  Regional Ministers’ positions , Appointment of the majority of Ministers from parliament and limited terms of MPS and capping of parliament not to create new constituencies.

The Executive Director of RISE-GHANA, Mr Awal Ahmed Kariama , described the setting up of the Constitutional Review Committee as very important, that will strengthen Ghana democracy because, the citizens are losing confidence in the aspects of our long time tested constitution and therefore the review is very necessary to address those issues and lauded it’s participatory nature, which gives an opportunity to people to profer their recommendations to ensure that, we have an inclusive country.

He proposed that,the appointment of the security Chiefs should be done by an independent body, not by the president as it’s now especially the Inspector General of Police, IGP and apart from that, Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief executives should not be chairing their security councils because some of them do not have what it takes to know security issues like their commanders, but the provision of the Constitution gives them the mandate and, he wants that changed. Mr Awal Ahmed Kariama again proposed that, there should be legislation to establish dedicated development strategies and fundings for the Regions deliberately, that goes beyond regime changes, to avoid political parties winning power and always cancelling developmental projects initiated by the previous government,  because there are highest levels of poverty and inequality in the Regions , citing Upper East Region as example, that the Region can be solar and agriculture hub, for the country when attention is given to it  in that direction, which can be feeds to the national development agenda. He expressed his confidence in the members of the committee and it’s works that, it will deliver on its mandate, but called on the citizens to demand accountability and push for the accenting authority, who is the President to do the needful when it gets to his office.

The Committee members who were led by the chairman ,Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, Prof. Kwame Karikari, Dr. Rainer Akumperigeya and others, and expressed their gratitude to the people of the Upper East Region for their attendance and their views and assured them that this time, the Constitution review will come to fruition.