Don’t Blame 1992 Constitution For Corruption – Ayikoi Otoo
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Mr. Joseph Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice says the 1992 constitution is not to blame for corruption among the political class.
While acknowledging that the Constitution required periodic reviews to improve its performance, he said the provisions of the constitution were informed by historical events and experiences of previous governments.
Speaking on a news programme monitored by the Ghana News Agency, Mr Ayikoi Otoo kicked against calls for a total overhaul of the 1992 constitution.
He was responding to concerns raised by some analysts that the constitutional provision, which enjoined the President to appoint more than half of his Ministers from Parliament undermined proper checks and balances and fueled corruption.
“There is a history behind the Constitution. Dr Hilla Limman lost his budget because he did not have the numbers to support it. So there is a history why the President appoints some of his ministers from Parliament.
“But if after 30 years we find issues with it, then we can review it; we should not say that it’s the cause of corruption…Article 527 was an Act that was passed to amend the Constitution. So the Constitution is not rigid; it can be amended,” he said.
