The Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has acknowledged that Ghana’s Constitution grants excessive power to the president, a situation he believes undermines good governance.
Prof. Prempeh noted that many of the proposals received from stakeholders during the review process call for a reduction in the president’s constitutional powers to foster a more balanced system of governance.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, he reflected on the challenges of concentrated power, explaining that while it provides the president with significant control, it also carries substantial responsibility.
“Some of this power is actually burdensome, and we should not forget that there is a flip side to this,” he observed.
He further emphasized the president’s pervasive influence in national affairs, stating that almost nothing of importance can be achieved in Ghana without the president’s attention and approval.
“The president indeed has this disproportionate power, and nothing good that you want done in this country can move unless you get the president’s attention. Also, nothing bad that must be stopped can be stopped unless it is to the president that we appeal,” Prof. Prempeh explained.
He added, “Whether it’s galamsey in the hinterland or anything else, we appeal to the president because, on his or her say-so, action can be taken.”
While acknowledging the crucial role of the president in decision-making, Prof. Prempeh expressed concerns about the over-centralization of power, describing it as a “burdensome power” that could be better distributed. “A good president must not like it,” he stated.
Prof. Prempeh also suggested that a president genuinely committed to decentralization and empowering local leaders would be more inclined to relinquish some of their power. “If you get a president who is focused on this direction, they will be more than happy to give up some of the power,” he added.
