At the Sunyani Zonal Constitution Review Forum, stakeholders have issued a strong call for comprehensive constitutional reforms—foremost among them, a clear separation between parliamentary duties and ministerial appointments.
The forum, held at the Eusbett Conference Centre as part of the ninth zonal engagement of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), highlighted growing public concern over governance inefficiencies linked to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. Central to the discussions was Article 78(1), which mandates that the President appoint the majority of Ministers from among sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
Participants argued that this provision compromises the independence of Parliament, weakens the separation of powers, and places excessive demands on MPs, limiting their ability to perform either role effectively.
“No individual can adequately fulfill the dual responsibilities of a legislator and a minister. The Constitution must make a clear distinction to promote good governance and accountability,” a participant emphasized.
The stakeholders called for an amendment to bar MPs from concurrently holding ministerial positions in future constitutional arrangements.
Broad Representation and Strong Consensus
The forum drew a diverse group of participants, including Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, youth organizations, members of the security services, business leaders, and other public and private stakeholders.
Their unified message was clear: Ghana’s current constitutional framework must evolve to strengthen democratic institutions and align governance practices with the country’s contemporary needs.
