James Enu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West
James Enu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, has described President John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration of a constitutional review committee as a necessary step to ensure that Ghana’s constitution reflects the country’s current needs and challenges.
President John Dramani Mahama, on January 30, inaugurated an eight-member Constitutional Review Committee to identify and address gaps and challenges in the implementation of previous constitutional review work done by the 2010 Committee.
Enu, who is also a lawyer, said the 1992 Constitution, which had been in effect for almost 33 years, had not undergone any major review. He emphasized the importance of amending certain provisions of the constitution to promote good governance, strengthen democracy, and address legal and political concerns that have emerged over the years.
“There are a few provisions in the constitution that have come under discussion in terms of how we can review them to fit our current circumstances. As a nation, as we grow, our circumstances change, and it’s therefore important to review our laws to reflect our hopes and aspirations as a country,” he stated.
Speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he commended the President for initiating the constitutional review process, stressing that it was a necessary step for national progress. He called on all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens, to participate in the review process.
The MP highlighted several key areas that the review might touch on, including whether Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should be appointed or elected.
Currently, MMDCEs are appointed by the President and approved by local assemblies. However, there has been an ongoing debate about whether these officials should be elected instead of appointed.
The MP also noted that the review might address challenges surrounding constitutional restrictions on dual citizens holding certain public positions, explaining that this limitation prevents many qualified individuals from contributing to the country’s development through public service.
“Once you have dual citizenship, you’re not eligible for certain positions, but arguments have been advanced to the effect that some of these people have ideas, acquired skills, and expertise that they can bring on board to help the nation,” he stated.
He added that there had been continuous debates regarding whether elections for assembly members should be conducted along partisan lines. While the current system officially mandates non-partisan elections, in practice, many assembly members are politically aligned with specific parties, which influences their decisions and interactions within the assembly.
Enu stated that the ongoing review process might address this issue to ensure greater clarity regarding the election of assembly members—determining whether assembly elections should remain apolitical or be officially conducted on a partisan basis to align with political realities on the ground.
Another area the MP believed the review might touch on is the capping of Supreme Court justice appointments.