The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders Chair for South Africa, Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has named the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Supreme Court as the two institutions that need complete overhaul.
According to him, the overhaul is needed to safeguard the country’s democracy.
Speaking on Accra-based Kessben FM on Monday, he noted that these two institutions of state have been politicised, eroding their neutrality in handling public affairs.
“I can admit no one can entirely be indifferent, but a situation where known political people of a party are appointed to these institutions, they can’t be fair in presiding over cases between their party and another person,” he said.
The Chair of the SA Council of Elders further expressed concerns about recent rulings by the Supreme Court of Ghana, attributing them to what he described as partisan judicial appointments by President Akufo-Addo.
“These appointments are clearly made to serve his bidding,” he remarked.
“We cannot run a country this way—it will not serve us well. Reforms are necessary, and this is one of the key areas where we must hold President Mahama accountable. Without abusing a parliamentary majority, the needed reforms must be enacted,” Mr Quashie emphasised.
Addressing the question of whether Ghana’s presidential tenure of four years should be amended, he shared his personal view, “I believe four years is too short for any leader to achieve meaningful progress. However, it is not up to me or even President Mahama to decide. It must be a collective decision by the Ghanaian people.
“Increasing the tenure could foster greater stability and development. But for now, the Constitution does not permit it, and we must respect its provisions. If the people decide its time for a change, we can then amend it,” he stated.
The Council Chair suggested that a term of five or six years would be more effective, arguing that a longer tenure provides leaders with the opportunity to achieve more than the current four-year limit allows.
“That is a fact, and I would personally support any move toward such an amendment, however, it is not solely up to me to make that decision,” he said.
Source: myjoyonline.com