Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has advocated for the introduction of a second, non-democratic chamber to advise presidents and improve accountability in Ghana’s government system.
According to him, the current advice system provided by the Council of State is insufficient.
In an exclusive interview with Emefa Adeti for JoyNews, the former president voiced worry that the Council of State’s in-camera meetings make transparency and public accountability difficult.
Kufuor suggested forming a second chamber made up of people with a variety of specialties. In contrast to Parliament, members of this body would be nominated from reputable institutions and among those with a solid track record of public service rather than being chosen through a democratic process.
“In spite of the fact that the committee is composed of quite distinguished people, somehow the perception is that it is more or less mandated to advise just the executive, the president, and meet the president in-camera,” he said.
“So, suppose that the president is doing something that perhaps will need to be exposed properly, and even when the national council advises, how would the public get to know?” he asked.
Kufuor argued that a second chamber would provide broader oversight and help balance the political system.
“So, I will rather have a second house, composed not so much on the basis of democracy, but from identifiable institutions in the land, and also a few individuals who have served the public, to be there to temper the excesses of democracy,” he stated.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
