The Institute of Economic Affairs and the Winner Takes-All (IEA-WTA) Advisory Committee has called for broad support and acceptance of its proposals to help shape the political destiny of the country.
A nationwide public consultation, undertaken by the 11-member committee, brought out key issues and manifestations of the Winner- Takes- All practice of governance for which proposals have been made in the areas of powers of the executive, the legislature, district level governance, funding of political parties and national development planning.
Sharing an insight into the proposals with the media in Accra yesterday, the acting chairman of the committee, Justice Emile Short, underscored the need to generate political discussion and put pressure on the government to accept the proposals.
Key proposals
Concerning the powers of the executive, the committee, recommended that appointments of heads of key constitutional bodies and governance institutions should be made by the President with the approval of two-thirds majority of Parliament.
Alternatively, the committee has suggested a duly constituted independent and bi-partisan committee to advertise the vacant position, vet the applicants, draw up a short list and submit same to the President for appointment.
Regarding the legislature, it called for the strengthening of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Parliament,stating that ‘’ the current practice of appointing Ministers from Parliament further weakens the institution.’’
According to the committee, Parliament is handicapped in its fundamental role of initiating legislation because of the interpretation placed on Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution.
On district level governance, the committee stressed the need for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES).
In the committee’s proposals the concept of decentralisation is undermined by the current mode of appointing MMDCES.
The IEA-WTA Advisory Committee also urged the government to accept the Constitutional Review Commission’s (CRC) recommendations on the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the need for a national long-term plan.
It also called for funding of political parties since they were the vehicles through which the ideals of multi-party democracy could be achieved.
National interest
Concerning challenges to the acceptance of the proposals, Justice Short said “some politicians will not accept a change in the status quo for selfish ends; we must put the national interest first and embrace the proposals.’’
According to Justice Short, “we must not play politics with certain issues on the economy such as corruption.’’
Growing polarisation
Ms Jean Mensa, Executive Secretary of IEA, pointed out that the Winner-Takes-All practice of governance has been identified as one of the main factors responsible for the growing polarisation of the Ghanaian society.
‘’For us at the IEA, our journey towards the reform of the WTA practice commenced in 2006 from which time a two year study was undertaken to identify the gaps in Ghana’s democracy for the purposes of making practical recommendations for reforms,” she said.
She said the outcome of the study was the Democracy Consolidation Strategy paper in 2007 which also recommended the need for constitutional review to deal with and address the Winner-Takes -All practice of governance.
The 11-member IEA-WTA Advisory committee is made up of Archbishop Charles Palmer Buckle (Chairman); Justice Emile Short, Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, Dr William Ahadzie; Prof. Stephen Adei, Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, Rev. Dr Opuni Frempong and Mr Sam Okudzeto.
The rest are Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman and Hilary Gbedemah.
