UTAG laments the lack of continuity in governance

The University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG, has lamented the decision of politicians to always discontinue projects started by their predecessors. In particular not in this instance is the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee.

According to UTAG, the work which was completed in 2011 with the government issuing a White Paper in June 2012 has remained untouched. It said the behaviour of politicians to sideline initiatives such as this commenced by their predecessors is unproductive and wasteful.

In a statement issued at the end of the 21st Biennial National Congress of UTAG at the University for Development Studies, UDS, in Tamale, UTAG lamented the attitude and called for a change.

“We note that having spent state resources to set up a Constitution Review Commission of Inquiry in January 2010 to undertake such a crucial exercise of nationwide public consultations culminating in a report submitted to the government in December 2011 and the issuance of the White Paper in June 2012, Ghanaians are yet to see real efforts from successive governments to implement the recommendations of the Commission.”

UTAG added that the attitude is “unacceptable” as the reviews were meant to take some of the burden off the President and avoid the incidents where the executive now acts like an authoritarian regime.

“This is unacceptable given the difficulties of the current times where the practice of executive authority almost veers into the realms of authoritarianism, as well as the inefficiency in governance due partly to the enormous responsibility placed on the shoulders of the executive President.”

Also, it noted that the intentional stagnation of the review process is a “great disservice” to the nation in its quest for “good governance” and progress.

“Thus, the deliberate stalling of Ghana’s constitution review process does a great disservice to the quest for good governance and sustainable development and the general improvement in Ghanaians’ physical quality of life.”

Additionally, UTAG called on the relevant bodies to resume the process and complete the review process to strengthen the country’s laws. It said, that when the laws are strengthened, there will be good governance, inclusiveness and sustainable development.

“Based on the foregoing, we call for an immediate resumption and completion of the constitution review process to strengthen the fundamental laws of Ghana for good governance, inclusiveness, and sustainable development that ‘leave no one behind’.”