Ghanaian broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere is advocating for a constitutional reassessment of the ‘winner-takes-all’ principle, which currently grants the incoming government exclusive control over national matters without a requirement to share power.
Adom-Otchere made these comments during the launch of his new book, Africa’s New Constitutional Leadership: 77 Stories that Defined Ghana’s 4th Republic, on November 29, 2024.
The book chronicles key events in Ghana's political history since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
In his address, Adom-Otchere criticised the winner-takes-all system, arguing that it hinders inclusive governance and exacerbates political divisions.
He called for a review of the current constitution to ensure greater power-sharing and national unity, particularly in light of the country's evolving democratic landscape.
“The remedy to the winner-takes-all and the political harmony, here, we criticise the winner-takes-all processes that the 1992 constitution gives us. We argue that it is time to break the winner-takes-all through a constitutional amendment.”
The book launch was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and the newly elected Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Managing Director of Channel One TV/Citi FM, Samuel Attah-Mensah, Minister of Energy, Hebert Krapah, CEO of EIB Network Group, Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly called Bola Ray, and several other dignitaries.
The book addresses a critical question at the heart of Ghana's political narrative: the evolution and significance of the country's various republics.
By delving into 77 defining stories, Adom-Otchere seeks to provide readers with an overview of the constitutional transitions that have shaped Ghana's modern political landscape.
The book covers the reigns of Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, Evans Attah-Mills John Dramani Mahama, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
-Citinewsroom