20100122
allafrica

The 1992 Constitution has, over the past sixteen years, served as the fulcrum upon which Ghana's democratic practice has revolved. Despite the fact that the constitution has for some time now operated successfully in the country, devoid of any military jettison, some Ghanaians, including constitutional experts, have pointed to some inherent weaknesses in the supreme document of the land. Much as there has been a general outcry and advocacy for a constitutional review, the point of disagreement has been the timing for such an exercise.

As a manifesto pledge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, the President, His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has already shown commitment, by inaugurating a nine-member commission charged with the responsibility of reviewing some provisions in the constitution.

Among them are extending the tenure of the government to five years, separating the position of Attorney General from the Minister of Justice, and placing a ceiling on the number of ministers appointed by the President, among many others.

This is a serious exercise that demands the support of the whole nation, as we embark on enhancing our democracy, which has become a shining example on the African continent.

In the government's effort to achieve the objective of reviewing the nation's constitution, one state agency that is expected to play a vital role in the information and education of the general masses of Ghanaians, the National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE), has already shot itself in the foot. Mr. Larry Bimi, Chairman of the NCCE, has made a public pronouncement to the effect that the 1992 Constitution is not yet ripe for review.

According to him, the constitution should be allowed some more lifespan to serve four or five generations, before it is tempered with.

Much as The Chronicle would not want to take away Mr. Bimi's right in making the said comments, the NCCE Chairman's strategic role in the whole review exercise, should have made him to keep his individual and private effusions to himself.

Now that he has publicly shown where he stands in this all-important constitutional review exercise, his conduct in the dissemination of information by the NCCE to Ghanaians has been seriously jeopardised.

The Chronicle believes that once the government has taken a decision to implement a policy, the individual dissent of public servants fades into oblivion, as they whip themselves in line to execute it.

This issue brings to the fore what the President said, when he addressed senior journalists in the castle at the beginning of the year, about his desire to work with heads of state agencies who share in the party's ideology.

With the behaviour exhibited by the NCCE boss, we think the President must have been spot on, when he made the statement.

Political parties prepare electoral manifestos, which set out both their strategic direction and outlines of prospective legislation, should they win election to serve in government.

The achievements or failure of the electoral promises that are enshrined in the party's manifesto, are usually what the electorate will judge the government with at the end of its four years mandate.

It is, therefore, unacceptable for the spokes in the wheel of the government's forward drive to come from within.