Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has proposed the creation of a second chamber of Parliament to oversee appointments to critical independent institutions such as the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA).

He made the call on Friday, September 26, while addressing a high-level media forum organised by the Africa Media Bureau at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The event also revisited ongoing debates about whether the two regulatory bodies should be merged.

Mr Kufuor cautioned that the current arrangement, where the President has wide appointing powers, risks creating political imbalance.

“Currently, everybody is saying the president has too much power, especially when it comes to appointments. That is where the issue of undue political advantage comes in,” he said.

While maintaining his support for Ghana’s executive presidency, the former President stressed the need for reforms to reinforce checks and balances.

“I will say on the principles of checks and balances, I might consider that idea that instead of the Council of State, I will suggest a second chamber, which will be composed of institutions, and that is where appointments to independent bodies like the NMC and NCA can be made.

“It shouldn’t be just the president saying so. There should be a body within the law, which is the second chamber, doing the vetting for people who will be recommended. So when they get their positions to be independent, they will work as such,” he explained.