Movement for Change leader, Alan Kyerematen, has promised to review Article 78 of the constitution if elected president in the December 7, 2024 general elections.
This, according to him, will promote accountability.
Currently, the constitutional provision grants the head of state powers to select ministers with the majority from Parliament, but Mr Kyerematen says this undermines their ability to effectively oversee the actions of the executive arm of government.
Responding to a question from Newsfile host, Samson Lardy Anyenini, on how he’ll mobilize support for this amendment since it may require parliamentary approval and subsequently a referendum, Mr Kyeremanten said the review is necessary and will be done.
He, however, emphasised that until that provision is changed, a government led by him will continue to abide by the current constitution.
“That particular provision in our law even reduces the substance of our checks and balances as a country. Because if half of your ministers are in Parliament, then can Parliament be truly an oversight body? It can’t? You don’t even have the time to do two things; serving as a member of the executive and also doing your work as an MP. All these things we are aware of them so why is it that we have allowed it to persist?
“So you have to come into power before you have the capacity to undertake the reforms.”
Mr Kyeremanteng also indicated that if he is elected president, he’ll ensure his appointees declare their assets publicly and in real-time.
“How is it that somebody finishes school, he has never done any work before then all of a sudden the guy has built houses not just a house and you can see that his circumstances have changed without explanation.
“So there has to be a real-time tracking of how public officers are responding to the demands of these provisions and the only way is through a lifestyle audit. I know some people will feel very uncomfortable with that but how are you financing your lifestyle? How much are you earning as a minister to be ‘blowing’ money like that?
“I am fully in support of declaring assets and I will do so willingly. I am fully in support of proceeding with some of the recommendations made in the Great Transformational Plan (GTP).
Touching on corruption, he indicated that he would create a second chamber in Parliament to oversee the appointments of government institutional heads.
“The Special Prosecutor is working very hard but the power of the Special Prosecutor is a delegated power and authority from the Attorney General. This means you may have the power but it is no power.
“So under the new constitutional reforms being proposed, there is going to be a second chamber of parliament for appointments like this, so that the President has no business appointing an anti-corruption chief.
“We have to limit the power of the President even in making appointments to the leadership of independent constitutional bodies,” he stressed.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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