Joseph Dindiok Kpemka
A Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, yesterday laid the Constitution (Amendment), 2018 in Parliament to allow political parties to sponsor candidates for the district assembly elections.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018, will now seek to amend Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution which bans political parties from sponsoring candidates seeking offices in the district assemblies or lower government units.
According
to Article 55 (3) of the Constitution, a political party is free to participate
in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on
political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character, and
sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than to district
assemblies or lower local government units and so therefore the amendment will
now allow political parties to sponsor candidates at the district assembly
level or lower government units
The bill was laid on behalf of the
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo.
After the bill was laid, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Michael Oquaye, said per the constitutional provision, the bill would have to go through a national referendum.
He said at least 40 per cent of voters would have to participate in the referendum and 75 per cent of voters should vote in favour of the amendment for it to be deemed accepted.
It is
recalled that on February 20, 2019, the government laid another bill in Parliament
to allow for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief
Executives (MMDCEs) in the country.
That bill which is currently before Parliament
is to amend Article 243 (1) of the Constitution to provide for a district chief
executive to be elected by universal adult suffrage within a district.
When passed by Parliament, the new law will end the current constitutional arrangement which empowers the President to appoint all MMDCEs.
Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates
that “there shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be
appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds
majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting.”
Meanwhile, Parliament which reconvened yesterday for the second meeting of the third Parliament will be considering some urgent bills such as Affirmative Action Bill 2019, Public Private Partnership Bill, 2019, Consumer Protection Bill 2019, Creative Arts Bill 2019, National Research Fund Bill 2019, Vigilantism and Related Offences 2019, Interstate Succession Bill 2018, Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019, as well as Ghana Technology University College Bill, 2019 and the Ghana Cocoa Board (Amendment) Bill, 2019, before rising.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr