Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, says there is an urgent need for the amendment of the 1992 Constitution.

According to him, the 1992 constitution is retarding Ghana's progress.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on July 9, he said, “The 1992 constitution has to be overhauled. The Chief Justice herself at her vetting, indicated that she doesn’t want a constitution in which the president has a role in the discipline of judges. That is what she said.”

According to Mr Kpebu, this suggested that the president should also not be involved in appointing judges.

“This is weakening our democracy. Do you see what a bad leader can do? Now we have a bad leader and you see how much we are retrogressing? So that’s a big lesson for us. Let’s overhaul this constitution. No president should be appointing Chief Justices and Supreme Court justices. No way.”

“You see what a bad leader can do to Ghana? And we are suffering. For eight years we have been retarded,” he said.

He added that appointing ministers from parliament is another factor hindering the country's progress.

“We need to make all these constitutional amendments to make Ghana a better place. Right now, our constitution is our biggest problem. It is retarding our progress. Let’s get on with the constitutional review quickly so that we can have a new constitution,” he said.

According to him, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, President Akufo-Addo, and Attorney General Godfred Dame have acted illegally in the recommendation of judges by the Chief Justice to the President.

In a letter, the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, asked President Akufo-Addo to nominate five judges to the Supreme Court.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Mr Kpebu stated that “it is wrong because the constitution is very clear on it. Article 144, clause 2, makes it clear that the Chief Justice can nominate, but it should go to the Judicial Council. The Chief Justice cannot write directly to the President. That is not the law.”

The legal practitioner added that it is not surprising because Akufo-Addo champions illegal constitutional conduct.

“So, for me, I am not in the least surprised that is his stock in trade. It is not surprising that he is again involved in such illegal conduct,” he noted.