Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, has stressed the need for a comprehensive transformation of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. Citing findings from Afrobarometer’s 2024 report, Bagbin expressed concern over the growing disillusionment with democracy among the country’s youth, warning of the potential risks this trend poses to the nation’s stability.
Bagbin pointed out several flaws in the current constitution, particularly the excessive concentration of power in the executive branch, which he argued undermines the balance of power between the various arms of government. While he acknowledged that the constitution has helped maintain political stability, he noted that this has come at the expense of the country’s broader development.
Speaking at the University of Ghana Alumni Lecture on the theme “30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy: The Journey Thus Far,” in Accra, Bagbin called for a shift in focus towards development.
“The primary goal of those who drafted this constitution was to ensure political stability. While I believe we have succeeded in that, it has been at the cost of development. Now, we must move forward and focus on transforming the constitution to address this imbalance,” Bagbin said.
He emphasized that rather than reforming the current system, a complete transformation is necessary, stating, “This constitution has many defects, and the time to address them is long overdue.”
Among the key issues he highlighted were the excessive executive power, which has significantly impacted the functioning of Parliament. Bagbin called for immediate action to address these defects and ensure a more balanced and effective governance system.