IEA launches democratic strategy

By Edmund Mingle
October 12, 2008

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana will today launch a Democracy Consolidation Strategy Paper (DCSP) that aims at significantly enhancing the country’s constitutional democracy.
The strategy document analysis the shortcomings of Ghana’s democratic practice since the inception of the 1992 Constitution and offers suggestions for practical reforms.

It proposes practical reforms in by examining the constitution, political parties and the electoral system, decentralization process, anti-corruption and human rights protection.

In addition, the DCSP which was prepared by a team of consultants commissioned by the IEA in October 2006, proposes reforms in the legislative framework to make Parliament more effective, the justice system, media independence and civil society’s participation in public policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
The highlights of the document include the setting-up of an All-party Constitutional Review Committee to prepare towards holding a Constitutional Review Conference to consider discussions for proposed amendment of portions of the 1992 Constitution.
Kwamena Ahwoi, a member of the IEA consulting group, briefing the media about the document on Monday, explained that the Review Committee would also collate proposals for amendments under the entrenched and non-entrenched provisions in conformity with the Constitutional procedure for amendment, Ghana Consultants, told newsmen in Accra.
He said they also recommended the setting-up of a Ghana Centre for Multi-Party Democracy, comprising members of the political parties, the executive, legislature, judiciary, independent institutions, governance institutions and the media.
Mr Ahwoi, a Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who led the consulting team including, Dr William Ahadzi, a Political Science Lecturer and Professor Yaw Twumasi, Former Political Science Lecturer, said they recommended that the Judiciary to initiated the necessary steps for transforming its operations.
They also recommended the establishment of Ghana Women Conference and Ghana Youth Conference to draw national policy on women and the youth, he said.