Economic Policy Analyst, Senyo Hosi, has urged Ghanaians to not take the current political stability in the country for granted, stressing that it was one of the legacies of the 1992 Constitution that ought to be safeguarded for future generations.
Mr Hosi made these remarks at the second edition of the Constitution Day Pubic Lecture, organised by the UPSA Law School in collaboration with One Ghana Movement.
Speaking on the topic: “Avoiding the Impending Death of the 1992 Constitution,” the CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors opined that political stability is an indispensable commodity that every country yearns for.
To this end, he says deliberate attempts should be made by operators of the constitution to ensure the succinct delivery of the liberties and provisions enshrined in the constitution.
Mr Hosi also averred that for the constitution to sustain its relevance and meaning, it was incumbent on the populace to demand certainty in the delivery of what he termed as the ‘blessings’ of the constitution. These blessings, he said, include liberty, equality of opportunity and prosperity for all.
He said that anything short of that could spell doom for the nation.
“I opine that the enduring stability from a constitution lies in its ability to sustain the hope for a better and fuller life, and in our case, the blessings and values promised in the preamble of the 1992 constitution,” Mr Hosi said.
“We cannot take our political stability for granted, so we must ask, “Are we delivering on the promises of liberty, equality of opportunity and prosperity?
“Are we living the values of freedom, probity, accountability, and justice?” If not, then the bigger question must be asked, “Are we eroding hope that we will deliver?” If yes, then for sure the death of the constitution may well be nigh.”
In his welcome address, the Dean of the UPSA Law School, Prof. Kofi Abotsi, said his outfit was honoured to host the annual Constitution Day Lecture, indicating that the topic for this year’s event was chosen to evoke and stimulate conversations on the need to improve the country’s democracy.
He opined that as Ghana commemorates 30 years of its Fourth Republican Constitution, it was imperative that these conversations will not only shape the democratic future of the country but also improve the lives of the people.
Prof. Abotsi refuted assertions that the 1992 Constitution was on the verge of death, saying: “The topic is understandably evocative. For many are those who have asked the question why we [are] speaking about the impending death [of the 1992 Constitution] but let it be clear, the Constitution is not going to predictably die.
“However, constitutions have died over the years and therefore if we pursue on the path of things that may have led to the death of constitutions in the past, it is not unreasonable to think that we may suffer the same fate.
“Therefore it is imperative that we do some reflections and perhaps change course if there is a need be, if we are on the wrong path.”
Other speakers on the day included the Majority Leader, Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine, who represented the Minority Leader.
They both expressed varied opinions on the current state of operation of the 1992 Constitution. Whilst Mr. Mensah-Bonsu believes that the constitution had many deficiencies which needed to be cured, Dr Ayine held the opinion that the problem the country faced had nothing to do with the 1992 Constitution but rather the attitude and nature of leaders and the general public.
The event also attracted notable personalities from across the country including the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Joseph Whittal, a former Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Prof. Joshua Alabi, a former Minister of Finance, Prof. Kwesi Botchway, and the 2020 Presidential Candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku.
