Foase (Ash), June 23, GNA - Participants at a district level consultative forum on the review of the constitution in the Atwima-Kwanwoma district, have asked for the setting of a limit on the number of judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court.

They argued that the present arrangement where there is no ceiling on the size of the court is unhealthy for the nation's democracy. This is because the President could bully his or her way through constitutional matters by simply packing the court with sympathetic judges. Chiefs, assembly members, civil society organizations, political party representatives and heads of department were on hand to let their views be heard at the open forum at Foase.

Issues that came up at the forum bothered on the Judiciary, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Electoral Commission, National Media Commission (NMC), National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), chieftaincy, decentralization and local government, public services and fundamental human rights.

The participants suggested that local languages should be used on the floor of parliament.

This, to them, would allow Members of Parliament (MPs), who are not articulate in the English Language to debate more forcefully and convincingly in parliament.

Besides, they wanted the district assemblies to remain non-partisan, but recommended that Presiding Members (PMs) should be paid salaries from the Consolidated Fund.