CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-Ghana Adopts strictly British Parliamentary Electoral

System with a Ghanaian Twist



By yao fiagbeto



The Concern Citizens Democratic Alliance for Ghana supports those who are

advocating constitutional amendment to Ghana’s Constitution. We salute the

minds and dedication of men and women who formulated, debated and promulgated

our constitution before it became the law of the land.



But as we often say in Ewe “ngor gbee azor li le” that is why we must revisit

our Constitution and give it a makeover. Amending the Constitution now is an

acceptable way of incorporating current national realities into the Constitution

to correct current eccentric and tackling future challenges head-on. We all can

attest to the fact that the base of Ghana’s Constitution is partially British

and partially American Constitution, which in our view is a good thing. But the

time has come to examine our democratic guide (The Constitution) and decide

whether to continue using both or one system for effective Ghana rural and urban

governance.



The British Constitution in the 12th century gave birth to a very unique

parliamentary system which produces only the best rooted constituent

intelligentsia well vested in their local and national way of life. The

parliament comprises representatives from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales

with different political persuasions and the party which wins the majority of

seats forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister. The Prime

Minister chooses about 20 MPs from his party to become the cabinet of ministers.

Each minister is responsible for a particular area in the government, and the

second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and a

shadow cabinet. The leader however, is a well recognized position in the House

of Commons. MPs are elected either by general elections for five years or when

a member died or retired.

The system is so simple but dynamic, solely base on community politics and very

cost effective allowing even the poorest but intelligent person who is well

vested and visible in the community to stand for parliamentary election. Money

plays little role in British politics compare to other democracies like what we

are experiencing right here in Ghana.

Whereas, the American Constitution is based on a national government of the

federations of fifty states that comprises the United States of America. It has

three distinct branches of government, a legislature, and executive and a

judiciary. These branches and their various powers are defined in the U.S.

Constitution; the legislature has two bodies, Congress with hundred elected

members, two from each state serving seven years and House of Representatives

with elected members from congressional districts based on population serving

two years. The American national government is based on influence and power.

Money, television, billboards, and diverse form of advertisement, play very

important role in American National Government elections. The National

Government requires two separate campaigns for American Presidential and

parliamentary elections. This system only strives on Money, Influence, Power,

and Elegance.

It is therefore clear that our constitution is a very sophisticated and

intellectual peace of political work document based on two powerful systems of

governance. Such a merger deserves enormous applause, ironically very confusing

and frustrating to the ordinary fellow Ghanaian (farmers, fishermen, market

traders, workers, civil servants etc). The evidence is vividly on the ground

especially in our rural, urban ghettos, and uncompleted buildings.



Therefore, we the CCDAG believed the honest way forward must be one system based

on the British parliamentary governance, whose electoral campaign is far less

expensive takes only three weeks from start to finish focusing on only one

election to accomplish two goals. Electing MPs and the Executive branch the

Prime Minister. The American System is an expensive electoral venture designed

only for the powerful rich elites. The American system requires two special

electoral campaigns with a heartbreaking and distressing expenditure.



For that matter we are proposing the following for Constitutional Amendments to

the Constitution of The Republic of Ghana that:

1. Chapter Eight- The Executive (1). There shall be a President of the

Republic of Ghana who shall be the Head of State and Head of Government and

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana.

Should be amended to read

1. Chapter Eight- The Executive (1). There shall be a general election and

the party which wins the majority of seats forms the government and its leader

becomes Prime Minister who shall be the Head of State and Head of Government and

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana.





We hope our humble observation and request will generate a debate that will

expose majority of Ghanaians in making informed decision on our electoral

process and constitutional amendment. A well-versed choice based on the British

electoral and parliamentary system with a Ghanaian twist which allows only one

electoral campaign, less expensive, producing executive and legislature

results. Though this is going to be a blow to current political hierarchies, we

pray the love of country and her future generations should be more important to

them than their current political positions and support and work tirelessly on

this proposed Ghana Constitutional Amendment.



Thank you all and God bless you! God bless our Home-Land Ghana. Long Live Ghana!

Enyonyoge! Eba hi, Allah ki yayie! Ebe yeyie



Yao Fiagbeto



PRESIDENT& FOUNDER-CCDAG. BOX 222,JONESBORO, GE0RGIA. 30237

Rutherglen - Glasgow, Scotland. U.K. North-West Legon, Kwabenya. G/A Ghana.

P.O. BOX 3O, Atito via Anloga. V/R Ghana

ccdaghana@yahoo.com, gbenufia@yahoo.com, hedevodu@yahoo.com

nagoash@yahoo.com