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Postponement of December Referendum

........The sovereign will of Ghanaians has prevailed
Feature Article Postponement of December Referendum
DEC 4, 2019 LISTEN

The decision of President Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo to call off the Referendum for lack of broad ,national consensus is another but yet recognition and meaning which reinforces truism that the sovereignty of the nation as stipulates by Article (1) of Ghana's 1992 Constitution is supremely resided in the citizens of Ghana.

But no other individual persons, irrespective of their status.

"The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and whose welfare the powers of Government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution" .

Addressing the nation on Sunday 1st December ,2019 , the President indicated the attainment of a broad consensus , for him, on a matter as important as the amendment of an -entrenched provision of the Constitution is critical.

However, I would want to emphasize that it is not only the repeal of Article 55(3) and 243(1) of the Constitution and other provisions there of in Ghana's documents which would need greater and broader consensus in future, which is critical to democratic development of Ghana, but a total and comprehensive socio-economic , cultural and political infrastructure collectively given in the letter and spirit by Ghanaians for our dear country , should be strictly enbraced and adhered to by present and any other future governments for our forward much.

This is to remind NPP Government to give meaning to the recommendation of the Constitution Review Commission work which suggested a number of changes and improvements in the country's government system. Because that is the reflection of the sovereign will of Ghanaians.

By consulting former presidents as President Akuffo Addo indicated that on 18th April 2017 he held a meeting with his three predecessors, His Excellencies Jerry John Rawlings , John Agyekum Kufour and John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House , to seek their views and counsel on the issue of amendment of Article55(3) and 243(1) cannot in anyway take the place or represent the true will of Ghanaians.

In the same vain , I must quickly point out that there is no way that Members of Parliament nor all the political parties' views put together can represent or supplant the sovereign will of Ghanaians.

Let no one deceives themselves into thinking that it is only Political parties who have supreme ideas and acumen to give directions as to how the nation should be governed .

This is clear manifestation that building consensus among only Political parties is not enough to concretize any changes in our governance structure ,but the will of majority of Ghanaians should be magnified to ensure at all times that our democracy is well consolidated at all levels of the nation's government system.

It has always be my sincere and cherished wish that the majority of Ghanaians become well enlightened to the realities of governance structure and workings of our governments so as to put members of government to strict accountability in order to push them to do what is expected of them.

I believe the postponement of December Referendum should critically inform both the leadership of New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress, in particular that Ghanaians are well awake and they cannot take them for a ride anymore.

Alex Ababio
Executive Director of African Liberators Economic Institute

[12/4, 4:37 AM] Alex Ababio: Hiii
By Alex Ababio ( Executive Director of African Liberators Economic Institute)

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