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Wed, 18 Dec 2024 Feature Article

Our regal constitution

Our regal constitution

"The constitution leaves a beautiful woman, naked and ready on the president's bed, yet hopes and prays, he would look the other way!"

The talk in town of Akufo-Addo being the sole reason for the NPP's catastrophic demise in the elections is a typical Ghanaian attitude of name-calling and apportioning blame to others for our own convenience.

Only a few weeks ago, most of these radio vampires were all over the place, either breaking the eight or extolling the praises of Akufo-Addo for his unprecedented achievements.

"Akufo-Addo has achieved more than Nkrumah", they claimed. "His free SHS policy has empowered hundreds of thousands with secondary education. He has built more interchanges and hospitals than any other president in our living memory."

Indeed some of these political commentators even predicted a one-touch victory for the president.

Suddenly, the great Akufo-Addo is the demon who master-minded the unprecedented downfall of the elephant, driving him back to the bush! What has changed?

Let no one blame Akufo-Addo for the demise of the elephant. Whether NPP or NDC, Akufo-Addo or John Mahama, the same desires drive their basic ambitions.

The achilles heel of Ghana's democracy is our constitution. Our regal constitution load the president with so much power to do anything he wants, except the power to turn a woman into a man.

Such constitutional absolutism doesn't only turn a man into a god. It legitimizes constitutional autocracy, fuels political exclusion and empowers graft and corruption only in a more refined way than by the barrel of the gun.

From this context, it is easier to analyse the democratic retrogression this country has made since 1992.

Whoever thought that our liberal president, with valid credentials in street protests would supervise summary arrests of young placard-wielding proteststers calling for more government accountability against galamsey?

Or that one fine morning, somewhere in the Western Region, the great golden statue of President Akufo-Addo would rise above the skies and boulevards of Effia Nkwanta in a show of political blindness and insensitivity to the suffering masses of this country?

Or consider President Kuffuor who against all good counsel decorated himself with a state award that allegedly cost the taxpayer more than 65,000 dollars by conservative estimates?

Indeed, a raw amount of 1.5 million dollars was allegedly used on that awkward,self -aggrandising award ceremony that provoked international ire and public opprobrium.

lf this legendary frivolity is not nauseating for a country whose economy is under intensive care at the IMF, then l don't know what else is.

The biggest affliction of our democracy in the Fourth Republic is our 1992 Constitution which flatters and over-rates the discretionary ability of the president.

The constitution leaves a beautiful woman, naked and ready on the president's bed, yet hopes and prays, he would look the other way!

Then we need the Joseph of the Bible, son of Jacob, Prime Minister of ancient Egypt as our president. Only he has the temerity to flee from a woman's embrace for his dear life.

Neither Akufo-Addo nor John Dramani Mahama has the technology for overcoming the tempter. For both men are powerhouses in womanology.

Thus, the constitution being our most vicious foe, and most pronounced obstacle to the dreams and aspirations of our people, its refinement must be our chief motivation and our answer to presidential wantoness.

Theodore Dzeble
Theodore Dzeble, © 2024

Theodore is a corporate communications coach, author and writer. He provides corporate communications, editorial and writing support to organisations and individuals.
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I have authored four books, and helped several people to write their own books and biographies.l have also written for several national publications and was a columnist for the Business and Financial Times for several years. I conduct corporate communication training for business entities and assist individuals to enhance their communication skills. Column: Theodore Dzeble

Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here." Follow our WhatsApp channel for meaningful stories picked for your day.

Comments

EKG | 12/18/2024 3:03:59 PM

Very observant

Should the Free SHS policy be reviewed?

Started: 10-01-2025 | Ends: 31-03-2025

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