Support for the constitutional review proposed by the Mills administration seems to increasing all the more despite the negative preview given the exercise by the chairman of the NCCE. After 16 years of operation, the 1992 constitution has come under intense scrutiny, with some advocates calling for its review, while others contend it is too early to undertake such an exercise. The review, expected to cost some $3 million, has been critisised by constitutional lawyer Kofi Kumado who in a letter to media described the exercise as an act of misplaced priority. Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Larry Bimi, on Thursday also said the constitution is too young to be altered. But in a panel discussion on Joy FM’s Front Page programme, the Paramount Chief of the Agogo Traditional Area, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, said: “The decision is right, the timing is right and the composition is right.” “The constitution was made at the background of a military change-over to democratic process…If you look at the Council of State’s composition, for instance, you’ll see the representation being made up of ex-military general, ex-IGP and ex-chief justice, which would mean that it was meant to be a holding action so that if in the light of our experience in the past there should be any unstable situation, then each body would act as an interventionist body,” he said. “The review body should deal with the constitution in its totality…the constitution itself requires amendments in several ways.” While Nana Akuoko Sarpong does not support the idea that traditional authorities must “campaign for electoral power,” he said chiefs in the country “should have their own code of ethics” which tells them that engaging in politics could be “exposing [them] to some dangers.” “It should not be a constitutional provision because that in itself is in conflict with the right of the individual to join any association of his choice.” The constitutional review commission has been set up and set to start work. The proposals include extending the president’s tenure from four to five years as suggested by former president John Kufuor at the end of his tenure, decoupling the position of the Attorney-General from that of Minister for Justice. The review also seeks to put a ceiling on the on the number of ministers a president may appoint as well as the panel system at the Supreme Court. Perhaps what may be coming as most timely is the proposal to empower the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to “investigate all forms of malfeasance of a public officer without a complain made to it.” Although the criticisms have heightened, government says the process would continue. The assertion has received the support of barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Nana Asante Bediatuo. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana