IDEG Pushes for Bureaucratic Commission to Oversee Ghana's Constitutional Reforms
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The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) is advocating for a Multiparty Democracy and Constitutional Reform Commission (MDCRC), raising concerns about increased bureaucracy and potential overreach into Ghana's political process.
The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) has put forward a proposal to create a Multiparty Democracy and Constitutional Reform Commission (MDCRC) to oversee and implement constitutional reforms in Ghana. This independent body would be tasked with monitoring and regulating political parties, potentially adding another layer of oversight to the nation's political system.
Mr. Kwasi Jonah, Senior Research Fellow at IDEG, claimed that the MDCRC would address the failure to implement constitutional review recommendations. Speaking at a policy dialogue in Accra, he noted that despite multiple attempts at reform since 2010, none have been realized, blaming a lack of consensus between major political parties. However, critics may argue that such deadlock is a natural part of a healthy democracy, and that imposing a commission could undermine the sovereignty of elected representatives.
"From experience, constitutions are reviewed every nineteen or twenty years, so if you have a body like this in existence, they would collect the ideas for reforming the constitution and make sure they are implemented... It does not matter which party will be in power, because it is a technical commission; the reform effort can be carried through," Mr. Jonah stated, suggesting that unelected technocrats would have significant influence regardless of the people's electoral choices.
Professor Kofi Quashigah, former Dean of the University of Ghana Law School, backed the idea of a continuous constitutional review process embedded within the constitution. He suggested that such a body could gather reform proposals and present them for approval through referendums during national elections, potentially bypassing the traditional legislative process and the checks and balances it provides.
Ms. Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, focused on the issue of women's representation in governance, arguing that reforms have mostly targeted appointed positions rather than elected roles. While her concerns highlight the importance of equal opportunity, some may question whether such reforms should be mandated by an unelected commission rather than decided by voters and their representatives.
