- Rising dissatisfaction with democracy among Ghanaian youth threatens national stability
- The Constitution concentrates excessive power in the executive branch
- Political stability has been prioritized over economic and social development
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged a significant transformation of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
Speaking at the University of Ghana’s Alumni Lecture on “30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy: The Journey Thus Far,” he highlighted alarming findings from Afrobarometer’s 2024 report that show rising disillusionment among Ghanaian youth regarding democracy, which poses a serious threat to the nation.
Bagbin pointed out several critical flaws in the Constitution, particularly the overwhelming concentration of power within the executive branch, which he argues disrupts the balance among the government’s various arms.
While he acknowledged that the Constitution has helped maintain political stability, he stressed that this has come at the expense of the country’s development.
“The original goal of those who drafted this Constitution was political stability, which we have achieved, but now it’s time to prioritize development,” he stated. “Rather than simply reforming, we must transform the Constitution entirely, as the time for change has long passed.”
He emphasized that while there are numerous issues to address, one major concern is the excessive power held by the executive.
