Editorial: Reviewing A Constitution

Elsewhere in this edition, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the caucus of political party chairmen are reported to have expressed elation about the final decision to interrogate the constitution, with a view to effecting changes where necessary. Their elation is understandable, having initiated such a move and presenting the appropriate recommendations to the President, unknowing perhaps at the time that the mustard seed they had committed to the soil would blossom to this stage of a review commission. For them therefore, it is a dream come true. It is auspicious that the Administrator of the IEA, a barrister-at-law who played a sterling role in coordinating the sittings and eventually the recommendations for a review of the fundamental law of the land, is herself a member of the commission. We join the political party chairmen in savouring the development, especially if we can get the assurance that at the end of the day, Ghanaians will be able to confidently state that the money expended was not useless after all. We are aware of the concerns raised by a section of Ghanaians about the amount of money being spent on a review at this time of our financial crisis, in the face of many national needs. For those who have expressed such worry, their concern sounds plausible, given the dire picture of the country�s financial state as elucidated by the government in months gone by. That government finally decided to plunge into the project means two things, one of which is that perhaps, the financial situation is not as bad as being portrayed or that the importance of the exercise outweighs the constraints. Be that as it may, the commission has commenced operation and it is our wish that it will discharge the arduous assignment with an obsession for an unwavering democratic culture in which bad governance would be a thing of the past. Yesterday, the commission set the tone for its arduous task by talking to the press and for that matter the people of Ghana. We cannot expect anything but excellent performance from the array of distinguished Ghanaians. Their output should be an enterprise which would profit not only the present generation, but others yet unborn. The views of Ghanaians should play a critical part in fashioning out the envisaged enhanced constitution for the country. With this in mind, alongside the other critical terms of reference, we do not expect the commission to fail in meeting the aspirations of the good people of this country. Ghanaians, whose input will be required by the commission, should consider such assignment as a civic responsibility which should be treated as such because sitting on the fence under such circumstances is not an option. Any conduct short of this, for us, would be a breach of our responsibilities towards a part of Mother Earth we call our country. A good country is determined by how it is governed and since that fundamental law of the land, the constitution, is what we are attempting to upgrade through such a review, we should, all of us, do all we can to support it. We wish the Review Commission Godspeed.