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Fri, 17 Jan 2025 Feature Article

Ghana: Democracy in pampers

Ghana: Democracy in pampers

Democracy is based on free and fair elections and the citizens as the sovereign of the nation. Mechanism of checks and balances and power sharing of the executive, legislative, and independent justice system are fundamental pillars of democracy. To hold people in power responsible is the mandate also of the fourth power the independent press.

The new President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has already violated the 1992 Constitution and broken his oath of office. Chapter 76 (1) states that the Cabinet must have a minimum of ten and a maximum of 19 ministers, not 23 as of JD Mahama's Cabinet.

To have a Minister for Justice to hold also the Office of Attorney General is a mix of the Executive and Legal powers not in line with the principles of democracy. This makes it impossible to have an independent justice system.

It can be seriously debated why the NPP did not call on the Constitutional Court to stop the NDC President from violating the 1992 Ghana Constitution. The "I scratch your back when you scratch my back" slogan comes to the attention of any biased independent political observer.

The ORAL committee of the NDC seems to have developed into a propaganda machine a teeth-less lion. Their voiced mandate is to unsurface NPP's looting of national assets and corruption. The die-hard followers of the NDC instead use this momentum to whitewash their party claiming the NDC is never corrupt and under the first term in office of President John Dramani Mahama no or at least no serious corruption cases occurred otherwise the NPP during the past eight years in power would have already taken NDC members to court. This attitude and argument never stand the test of time but the above slogan persists.

Democracy is not by the taste of political actors but based on fundamentals brought to life by the ideas and will of a people. Following strict set rules ensures the constant growth of a society, not constant ups, and downs to put the progress of a nation at risk. Rome was not built in a day but modern Singapore in under two generations. Ghana 67 years of age has long entered the third generation after the end of the Gold Coast.

Karl-Heinz Heerde
Karl-Heinz Heerde, © 2025

Dipl.-Pol. Karl-Heinz Heerde (Political Scientist and Historian, Hamburg University 1980-1985), married to Alberta Heerde born Mensah, Ashanti from Kumasi with Ewe roots from Volta Region, Ghana, Entrepreneur and Author of several novels, the new constitution draft for Ghana and various Articles.Column: Karl-Heinz Heerde

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Comments

Kwame-Italy. | 1/22/2025 3:33:59 PM

I just reffered to the Ghana 1992 Costitution in my possession (in Itay. ) You are perfectly right. The violation of Article 76 (1 ) "the Cabinet " continues unabated ( Disguised Corruption ! ) ,proof that Legality and Accountability are still " empty "Values in Ghana's Democratic dispensation ( Executive,Parliament-judiciary) . I support also the separation of Ministry of Justice and Attorneý General. Please, keep on writing constructive critical Pieces as a true Son-...

Author's Reply
Great son of Ghana. Please, you have humbled me again. I am lost of words.

Should the Free SHS policy be reviewed?

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

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