NDC Norway Calls for Proportional Representation under New Constitution

The NDC Party in Norway as part of the ongoing process to draft a new Constitution has made a submission to the Constitutional Review Commission for a proportional Parliamentary system of Representation.

As part of the ongoing consultation process to build a new Constitution in line with the nation’s economic, social and political aspirations, the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has called for consultation amongst Ghanaians both home and abroad to make suggestions and inputs into the new process. Embassies abroad have been instructed to engage Ghanaians overseas in the process.

As a result NDC Europe has instructed its members to have discussions amongst the various Branches and to make submissions on issues of pertinent interest for submission to the Constitutional Review Commission.

NDC Europe is a network of NDC branches in Europe which presently includes Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway and Italy. It aims to strengthen the structures of the NDC Party in Europe and Ghana, build our alliances with mainstream EU Socialist Parties with the aim of enhancing the Democracy and Governance system in Ghana.

As part of the process members of NDC in Norway have deliberated on a number of issues which have been submitted to the Constitutional Review Commission. Some of the issues raised include the need for a proportional representation system of Parliament, the recognition of the rights of Ghanaians with dual-nationality, the need for the separation of the offices of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the separation of the powers of the Executive and Legislature and the need to abolish the death penalty.

Other Branches of NDC Europe including Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are currently in the process of consultation with their constituents which will eventually lead to the adoption of a common position on recommendations by NDC Europe as inputs into the Constitutional Review process.

Below is the full text of NDC Norway’s submission forwarded to the Constitutional Review Commission:

NDC Norway member’s contribution to the Constitutional Review in Ghana Rationale

Over many decades, many Ghanaians left the shores of Ghana to different parts of the world for diverse reasons: to further education and training opportunities, to seek economic fortunes and adventure. Yet the overall reason for leaving Ghana is to achieve a sustainable economic independence to support ones family and relatives. It is a fact that the great majority of these Diasporian Ghanaians have also become virtual bread winners for their immediate and extended families and other relatives back home. For some, regulation of their stay in the foreign lands entails adoption of foreign citizenship either through marriage, and/or work, to enable them effectively integrate and to allow easy travel across borders in the performance of ones duties. These categories of now “non-Ghanaians” do not love Ghana any less. They still show unflinching loyalty and allegiance to Ghana, the country of their birth.

Although some partial recognition has been accorded to some of these now “non-Ghanaians” by allowing them to re-possess some of their Ghanaian citizenship rights, a vast majority, particularly in the Scandinavia, have been denied this “half-right”. This is because their host countries do not recognize dual citizenship rights of citizens originating from developing countries, particularly Africa. A great many of Norwegian-Ghanaians fall into this category. Thus, often, the strange and curious situation arises, when one is caught in a situation of having to seek permission to enter Ghana annually on holidays, or travel to attend to a sick parent or bury them! Meanwhile, most of these now “non-Ghanaians” regard Ghana as their home, by investing large portions of what they earn abroad in Ghana in terms of infrastructure projects like housing and small businesses, which in turn house and employ Ghanaians.

Suggestions Taking cognizance of the fact the land of one’s birth is recognized the world over as a major yardstick in according citizenship rights, native Ghanaians, irrespective of which citizenship they might have acquired under diverse circumstances, must always be recognized as Ghanaians. Native Ghanaians and their offspring in Diaspora must be accorded full citizen rights and responsibilities.

• Consequently, members of NDC Norway want the constitutional review commission to recommend to the Government of Ghana to enact the appropriate laws that pursue the goal of according full citizenship rights to native Ghanaians including visa-free travel to Ghana regardless of which passport they might hold.

• Secondly, our members are also of the view that the interests of the citizenry would best be served impartially if the offices of attorney general and the Minister of Justice are separated.

• Thirdly, we will want a reformation of the electoral system. The one man electoral constituency, where the winner takes it all will in the long run pose a danger to the social integration of the country. Our parliament is virtually not truly representative. The proportional representation should be introduced so as to counteract the extremely polarized polity.

• Fourthly, the above change will require that parties field electoral lists. With this list, there should not be need for supplementary or bi-elections in the event of the death of or in situations where parliamentarians are rendered incapable of discharging their duties. With the electoral list sitting arrangement in the parliament will not be informed by which party you belong to but the region. A sitting arrangement on regional basis will tone down the enmity picture we have of political opponents and encourage collaborative effort to solve problems rather than acrimoniously debating issues in parliament.

• In the name of the separation of powers, the Executive (members of cabinet) should not in anyway whatsoever serve as lawmakers. A parliamentarian who is appointed to serve in the executive must step down temporary from parliament. His/her position would then be filled by the next person on the field list. If one is relinquished of the cabinet duties one simply goes back to the parliament. We think divided attention of the cabinet ministers who also serve as parliamentarians is not optimal. A cabinet minister should be a 100% cabinet minister. There is ample of evidence that the above-mentioned suggestions are workable. Cases in point are Norway and Sweden.

• We are also, of the view that the Presidential System of Government makes potential presidents politically redundant after the presidential elections are over. A parliamentary system of governance would have given them voice in parliament to contribute meaningfully to the governance of the country as leaders of their parties. It is very important that any person who wants to lead Ghana should have a parliamentary experience. This means that we revert to the parliamentary system. Answerability to the parliament is something we have seen as lacking in the Fourth Republic. Certain major policies which have affected the course of the country were taken without the involvement of the people’s representatives (parliament). It is also alarming that some of the decisions were taken by actors who are not answerable to parliament – chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff should be made a cabinet position if we choose to continue with the Presidential System of Government.

• Politics and chieftaincy is another issue the Committee has to look at seriously and the goal must be how to tone down their involvement in politics directly or indirectly. The incidences of Festivals and Durbar grounds being converted to political rally grounds do not augur well for the apolitical standing of the chieftaincy institution.

• If partisan election is good at the national level for choosing government and lawmakers; governance at the local level should also be on partisan basis. The current system of appointing MCE and some councillors is not democratic. The MCEs shall not be the long arm of the President, but the long arm (read representative) of the people.

• Party financing should also be something the Committee must address. We are of the view that democracy is best served if there is transparency about how parties are financed. The state should give financial support to parties based on the number of votes received during parliamentary elections.

• We consider the death penalty as crude and feel that the penalty does not belong to any civilized society and that the sanctity of life should be respected at all costs.

• Lastly, a general public administration act that regulates the citizen-public servant relationship should be enacted. This act shall specify the rights and duties of public servants and the citizen in the event where the public servant brings to bear his/her authority on the citizen. This act shall be the citizen’s tool in the fight against a vulgar bureaucracy (bureaucratese vulgaris).

Knapstad, October 17, 2010 Dr. Kofitsyo S Cudjoe Chairman, NDC Norway Interim Vice-Chairman, NDC Europe

For additional information contact: E-mail: ndcnorway@gmail.com or kriaascu@online.no

Source: NDC Europe