Apolala defends government’s position on Constitutional Review Committee’s Report
NDC communicator says proposed constitutional reforms should be judged on national interest, not partisan politics
Godfred Apolala a communications team member of the NDC of the Navrongo central constituency has defended the government’s white paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s report, saying the proposed reforms are intended to strengthen Ghana’s democracy and improve governance rather than serve partisan political interests.
He urged Ghanaians to assess the proposals based on their impact on citizens instead of viewing them through a political lens.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday August 3, Apolala said the constitutional review process was necessary because the 1992 Constitution has governed the country for more than 30 years and requires periodic amendments to address emerging national challenges.
He noted that the review process involved nationwide consultations, with citizens and stakeholders submitting proposals for consideration.
Apolala explained that although not every recommendation from the Constitutional Review Committee was adopted, the government’s white paper reflected careful consideration by legal experts who reviewed the committee’s findings before coming out with the white paper.
He stressed that rejecting some proposals does not mean they have been permanently discarded, as they could still be revisited during future deliberations before implementation.
“We should come and assess how it will help the ordinary Ghanaian and not go through the tangent of politics.” He said.
Apolala said the government’s decision to support extending the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four years to five years would provide more time for elected leaders to implement development programmes.
He argued that transitions, orientation for new MPs and election-related activities consume a significant portion of the current four-year term, leaving less time for governance.
He added that a longer tenure would reduce the pressure on governments to shift attention to campaign activities before completing their development agenda.
According to him, the proposal would enable administrations to focus on delivering their mandates while ensuring a smoother transition between successive governments.
“Giving a maximum of five years will not solve all the problems, but it will mitigate some of the challenges that we face.” He elaborated.
On the proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years, Apolala said younger people also possess the capacity to lead the country effectively.
He argued that leadership should not be determined solely by age, noting that many younger individuals have demonstrated competence in positions of responsibility.
He further commended Attorney General Dominic Ayine and the legal team behind the white paper for what he described as a thorough review of the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations.
He said government had relied on experienced legal minds to ensure the proposals would strengthen the country’s constitutional framework.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
