In Ghana, five political parties announce support for amending constitution

Five major political parties, including the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have backed calls for the amendment of the 1992 Constitution to meet the current development needs of the country. According to the parties, the amendment was necessary to address the lapses created in the constitution over the period and deepen the country’s democracy. The rest of the parties are the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP). They gave their backing when they took their turns at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Constitutional Review Seminar in Accra, on [29 March]. The parties, aside the CPP, which proposed a complete overhaul of the Constitution, backed calls for certain aspects of the document to be amended to meet the needs and aspirations of Ghanaians. [...] [Mr. Peter Mac Manu, a former Chairman of the NPP, said,] “We, therefore, call for an amendment of Article 55(3) which guarantees a party’s freedom to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor candidate for elections to any public office.” [...] The NDC’s Communications Officer, among other things, proposed changes in the country’s electoral system, to allow for an early election to be held specifically in November, to allow for ample time for a smooth transition for the next government. He also called for a capping on the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, with a maximum of 15. [The other parties also suggested that an Executive branch official should step in as Head of State when the President and Vice President are absent. Under the current arrangement, the Speaker of Parliament occupies the vacancy.]
Read the full article here: Ghana Business News