Our inability to adjust the constitution to change is perhaps a failure — Togbe Afede
The Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, has called for a long-overdue reform of the nation’s Constitution.
He stated that much has changed since the decades-old national guidebook was created, and that its relevance to the present should be considered.
Togbe Afede made the plea while chairing a public debate in Ho to commemorate Parliament’s 30th anniversary.
The Agbogbomefia stated that the 1992 Constitution should be updated to reflect the people’s current disposition within the basic principles of State policy.
“The constitution must be changed to respond to changes in our environment. So much has changed – ourselves as a people have changed. Our inability to adjust the Constitution to change is perhaps a failure”.
He did, however, applaud democratic advances, such as the successful handling of a hung Parliament and the passage of over a thousand measures so far, which has increased women’s involvement.
“30 years of uninterrupted democracy in our part of the world is a great achievement and needs to be celebrated,” he said, commending the Speaker “for taking tremendously bold decisions to make parliament effective against all odds.”
He went on to say that the Parliament’s goal of taking stock was admirable, and that the emphasis on more connection with citizens will make the Arm more relevant.
In his presentation, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin also urged for support for a constitutional review, which he claimed would open the way for a national development plan.
He referred to the President’s enormous powers as granted in the founding document, and he stated that the governance system needed to be reconsidered.
“We all must support the revision of the 1992 Constitution. We need to go through it to share and distribute the power.”
He spent time outlining the events leading up to the formation of the fourth republican parliament, saying that the people must recognize the achievement of delivering unbroken democratic government.