Give parliament more powers - U.S. Ambassador to Ghana

U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Robert Porter Jackson has said he wants to see a system in Ghana where parliament is given greater authority to demand accountability from the Executive.

The US diplomat also held the opinion that it was about time the country considered decentralisation.

Speaking to Dr Etse Sikanku on Class FM’s America Decides on Friday November 4, Mr Jackson was optimistic that the two interventions would improve the country’s developing democracy and make successive governments accountable to citizens.

“I will like to see the country proceed with decentralisation and provide more power to parliament. I think that those will be steps that will ensure vibrancy of Ghana’s democracy going forward and make governments more accountable and responsive to Ghanaians,” he emphasised.

Mr Jackson has also charged Ghanaians to vote based on issues rather than on personalities. He was of the view that such a practice would strengthen Ghana’s democracy. Ghanaians go to the polls on December 7 to choose a new president and a fresh parliament for another four-year term.

He said it was worrying that both the Ghanaian and American electorate were more focused on individual candidates than their messages.

“I am troubled that in both countries we are seeing more focus on personalities. …I believe that voters should be concerned about issues and not personalities,” he stated.

In his opinion, the debates between candidates in the U.S. election are good because they allow the electorate to know what the plans of the candidates are for the nation.