The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called for an amendment to the 1992 Constitution to allow chiefs to partake in active politics.
He explained that politics is about the development of the country and the chiefs are expected to lead development in their areas yet are barred from engaging in politics.
Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution says: ‘(1) A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin; (2) Notwithstanding clause (1) of this article and paragraph (c) of clause (3) of article 94 of this Constitution, a chief may be appointed to any public office of which he is otherwise qualified’.
But the Speaker of Parliament says this must change.
“The 1992 Constitution has stabilized democracy in Ghana but there is a lot for us to do to refine it to better suit our situation. I want to call on the future government to take this seriously, we need to amend the 1992 Constitution.
“I disagree with those who say that our chiefs should not participate in active politics, politics is about development, the chief lead the development and you say they should not participate in it yet the politicians every day are knocking at their doors,” Speaker Bagbin said on Sunday, June 30 when he called on the Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations in the Ashanti region which starts today with a public lecture at the Great Hall of the KNUST.
The Speaker, accompanied by his spouse, the Second Deputy Speaker, MPs from the region, the Clerk to Parliament and two Deputy Clerks and some staff of the Parliamentary Service, expressed gratitude to Otumfuor for his wise counsel over the years and gave the assurance that, like the Asantehene, he will strive to remain transparent and accountable to the electorate and Ghanaians generally as he steers the affairs of the 8th Parliament to a successful end.
The Asantehene cautioned politicians about overly monetizing the electoral process, as this breeds corruption. He urged MPs to remain in constant touch with their constituents in order to maintain a sense of conviviality among and between the governing and the governed classes.
