Governance Expert calls for targeted amendments to strengthen 1992 Constitution

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

Dr Valentin Mensah, a governance and accounting expert, has urged government and stakeholders to take a closer look at gaps within Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, stressing the need for targeted amendments that would strengthen accountability, national planning and governance.

Delivering a lecture at the ICAG Corporate Governance Faculty on the theme “A Critical Appraisal of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution from an Accountant’s Perspective: Contributions for Amendment”, Dr Mensah reviewed recommendations made by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) in 2010, highlighted reforms accepted by government in its 2012 White Paper and assessed their relevance to current economic and governance challenges.

Independent bodies and governance

Among the recommendations, Dr Mensah highlighted proposals for the appointment of heads and members of Independent Constitutional Bodies (ICBs) such as the Electoral Commission (EC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) through presidential nomination in consultation with the Council of State, but with prior parliamentary approval.

He argued that such a model would strengthen independence while balancing executive authority with parliamentary oversight.

Dr Mensah also supported fixing a non-renewable ten-year tenure for commissioners of CHRAJ, EC and NCCE, noting that this would promote continuity while preventing political interference.

Another major proposal was the creation of an Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC) and a dedicated ICBs Fund to determine salaries and finance operations of public officers and independent bodies without undue executive influence.

Strengthening anti-corruption and transparency

Dr Mensah stressed the need to amend Chapter 24 of the Constitution to enhance asset declaration regimes by public officers. He said the Auditor-General should be empowered to verify and monitor declared assets, while sanctions for false declarations must be explicit.

He welcomed proposals for legislation to clearly define conflict of interest rules and the acceptance of gifts by public officials, which would assist CHRAJ in enforcing ethical standards.

Dr Mensah further underscored the importance of empowering CHRAJ to initiate investigations without a formal complaint, with decisions directly enforceable by the courts.

National development planning

Taking a broader view, Dr Mensah critiqued Ghana’s development trajectory since 1992, pointing out that successive governments have pursued disparate national development plans without continuity.

He cited Vision 2020, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (HIPC), the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (2010), the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda (2019), and Agenda 2057 (Ghana@100).

The governance expert lamented that most citizens remain unaware of the guiding values of Ghana Beyond Aid, including patriotism, discipline and volunteerism, showing weak institutional grounding.

He proposed that the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) be established as an Independent Constitutional Body with technical competence, dedicated funding and the mandate to design long-term, binding national plans insulated from political cycles.

Directive principles and economic objectives

Dr Mensah linked his proposals to Articles 35 and 36 of the Constitution, which outline political and economic objectives such as equitable access to services, mobility of goods and people, eradication of corruption and the maximisation of national welfare.

He argued that amending governance structures to ensure accountability and enforceable development policies would give real effect to these constitutional principles.

Dr Mensah therefore urged government, Parliament and civil society to revisit the 2010 CRC recommendations, adopt reforms that address present realities and push for amendments that strengthen Ghana’s democratic and development framework.

“A constitution is not just a legal document; it is the economic and governance blueprint of a country. Ghana cannot afford to ignore the reforms needed to make our constitutional order more accountable, transparent and development-oriented,” he added.