Tyranny! Nduom Laments Ultra-Presidential Powers

2012 flag-bearer of the Progressive People�s Party, (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has taken a swipe at the framers of the 1992 Constitution for making the office of the president more powerful than any other arm of government in the country. Dr. Nduom could not fathom why the presidency should be allowed to have such enormous powers at the detriment of the whole nation. �How can we have one person sitting in Accra precisely the seat of government, Flagstaff House and be doing everything�?� he queried. Speaking in his capacity as the host of Ghana, Great and Strong, a weekend programme on Ghana�s premier internet-based radio, www.hedjorleonline.com, Dr. Nduom advocated an amendment to some aspects of the 1992 Constitution to limit the powers of the president. In his estimation, so many things went wrong with the writing of the constitution which culminated in the giving of enormous powers to the presidency by the framers instead of the people to be governed. The call for the constitution�s amendment of portions that renders the presidency very powerful, is in line with similar arguments he presented at the second anniversary lectures of the PPP which he [Dr. Nduom) delivered in Accra on Monday, July 28th 2014 on the theme: �Solutions for Ghana: A nation in crisis� He alleged that the 1992 Constitution was essentially promulgated to ensure that, the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and then president; Jerry John Rawlings remained powerful whiles in power. �One man (referring to former President Rawlings) became too powerful to the extent that when he was asked to hand over power he asked of whom he should hand over power to�,� Dr Nduom intimated. According to the astute politician, Ghana�s problem is not about bad economy or the fast fall of the cedi. Instead, Dr Nduom noted is about some flaws in the constitution which he said have made it difficult for the smooth running of the economy. He cited as example portions of the constitution which made the Minister of Justice the same person controlling the office of the Attorney General. The PPP, Dr. Nduom said will not give up the fight on ensuring that the Attorney General�s office is separated from the Ministry of Justice. He also condemned other provisions which do not permit people to elect their own Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive officers (MMDCE�s). �If we want to fight corruption and improve the governance system in the country it is important we do something about our constitution�,� Dr. Nduom advised. Lack of confidence in the governance system of the country, he went on to say is as a result of the too much powers vested in the president. This, he explained makes it cumbersome to hold the government accountable for its actions. He called on Ghanaians to emulate the example of the likes of the United States of America (USA), where power resides with the people who make the managers of the country accountable and responsible. Businesses, the PPP 2012 flag-bearer said can only thrive when people have confidence in government and believe in its ability to deliver on its promises. To this end, he called on Ghanaians to join the crusade of the PPP to demand some amendments to the constitution. �It for our own interest to see to it that some changes are made to the constitution if we want to experience the kind of economic prosperity we are all yearning for as a country�,� he said.