Don't Extend President's Tenure - Prof. Quashigah

The Dean of the law faculty at the University of Ghana, Prof Kofi Quashigah has said any attempts to extend the tenure of the Presidency will amount to creating “tin gods” in the country. He told an audience at a commemorative anniversary lecture by the Institute for Democratic Governance that the issue of extending the President’s current four-year-term must be approached cautiously. The extension is one of several constitutional amendment proposals being considered by the Constitutional Review Committee which has been mandated by the President to superintend the review of the 1992 Constitution. Speaking on the theme “Constitutional Reforms and Democratic Governance in Ghana”, Prof Quashigah said the status quo should be maintained to avoid creating an aura of indispensability around individuals who become President. “A two four year system is long enough to afford a determined individual as president to impact on the democratic institutions. A two five year period will be the beginning of creation of tin gods. It is the strengthening of the institutions of governance that should engage our attention so that the individual does not become the dominant feature…the four year period appears just sufficient so as to avoid the individual staying on too long and becoming complacent.” He said. Prof Quashigah added that arguments that there will be a constitutional vacuum in a scenario where the Vice President takes over from a dead, resigned or impeached President are untenable. He says the 1992 Constitution makes provisions for a Vice President who takes over as President in such a scenario to nominate another person for Parliamentary approval to be the Vice President.

Source: Citifmonline.com