The Deputy Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Nyamah, says he agrees with business mogul Sam Jonah’s assertion that the 1992 Constitution needs a complete overhaul.

According to him, the 1992 Constitution has outlived its usefulness in many aspects and that must be fixed in order for the constitution to fully and appropriately serve the needs of the country and its people.

Sam Jonah in a speech delivered at a Rotary Club function stated that the 1992 constitution, the basis for the country’s current democratic dispensation has “created a monstrous executive which looms large over the other arms of the governance structure, and for 28 years, we have failed to make any meaningful changes to strengthen our democracy. Actually, what we have is an “Executocracy”, not a democracy.”

Agreeing with Sam Jonah, Richard Nyamah said, “I totally agree to an overhaul of our 1992 constitution. Our constitution has all the hallmarks of a military authoritarian, paternal overload handing out goodies to his faithful subjects.

“If we are not being hypocritical and pretentious, we all know how this came about and it is time to shed this negative character of our constitution.”

He added, “A hybrid between the British parliamentary system and the American executive Presidency with the later carrying the day is only symptomatic of our hypocrisy and pretense as a people.

“We want to be seen to be practicing separation of powers but in reality, the executive is in full charge of the three arms of government.”

According to him, the current practice of selecting 50% of ministers from parliament has effectively reduced the house to a rubber stamp for the executives thus undermining the authority of the legislature.

“Whose idea was it that over 50% of ministers should come from parliament? If this is not a control tool of parliament, I don’t know what else is. If I am in such a parliament, I would naturally want to catch the eye of the President and be part of his government, which means I cannot be critical of the government and the President. The true intention of most members of parliament, I dare say is to become a minister,” he stated.

Richard Nyamah said changing this law would not only gyarantee the independence of parliament, but will reduce the monetisation of politics “as only people interested in representing their people will show up to be elected thereby reducing numbers and competition.”

“However, the statues quo benefits every government that comes to power therefore the disinterest in changing this entrenched provision.

It is my prayer CSO’s, the media, the clergy and well-meaning Ghanaians will forcefully make a case for an overhaul of our constitution which has outlived its usefulness in many aspects,” he stated.