The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has called for a six-year non-renewable term for the president instead of the four-year term to promote development in the country.
He said the current four-year term is a complete waste of time and resources and that there is the urgent need for the 1992 Constitution to be reviewed to give every president a six-year non-renewable term to give him ample time to execute his plans and that of his party’s manifesto fully.
He said as Ghana celebrates its 60th Independence anniversary, the country must seriously review the constitution and increase the tenure of the president to help fast-track development of the country.
“In a four-year term, the President uses the first year to appoint his ministers and put in place his government, the third-year is used to marshal resources for another elections and the last year is used for electioneering campaign and so the only active year for effective governance is the second year,” he said, stressing that if a president is not re-elected in his second term bid, his first term would not have any impact on the electorate and would have been a waste of time.
Dr Okoe Vanderpuije made the call in a statement he made on the floor of parliament yesterday on the topic ‘Ghana @60, the political lessons and the way forward’
He disclosed that it is an undisputable fact that since the promulgation of the 1992 constitution, anytime a president is elected, time and resources are spent to defend a one-term four year incumbency and that the first four-year-term comes with huge financial outlay and burden.
“The term of office, as it exists under the current constitution, is woefully insufficient for any government to seriously consider improving the economy and organizing elections in every four years. It is a financial pest and a drain on the limited state resources,” he said, stressing that there can’t be any effective planning and maximum development during a four-year term.
“My statement is for the consideration of the House a six-year term of presidency without any opportunity for re-election since this will in the long run promote greater development, save the nation huge financial burdens in organizing elections and promoting proper accountability to the electorate”
The NDC MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini backed the call by the Ablekuma South MP, saying it was for the same reason that former President J.A. Kufuor in his last ‘State of the Nation’ address also called for a five-year term renewable for the president.
He said there is great wisdom in giving a government enough time to implement its policies to improve the lives of the people.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alex Afenyo-Markin, in his contribution, said he has also made several calls for some portions of the constitution to be amended to meet the needs of the people.
He could not fathom why the constitution could prevent some groups of public workers like civil servants from engaging in partisan politics and at the same time allow public servants like teachers and health workers to openly engage in partisan politics and even contest for positions in political parties.
When that happens, it becomes very difficult for people who openly opposed other candidates while holding public offices to work with elected politicians, for instance, in the Ministry of Education, who could undermine them in achieving their political goals.
Some of the MPs also called on the President to quickly bring the report of the Constitution Review Commission to Parliament for immediate consideration.
Source: Daily Guide
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What one man has done another can do. I think we should stick to the 4-year rule. We need to be serious as a country, work harder and be able to make efficient progress within stipulated time. We should put the country first in all our deliberations.
Like by now we still will be dealing with the incompetent Ali Baba Mahama and his ***barred word***!! Tweaaaa!!!! America has been practising this two terms of four years and they are progressing. If any government will stop the unneccesary politiking snd ***barred word***, 4 years will be a long and enough time to cause a position change in the lives of the ordinary ghanaian!
4 years is a long time to do what you have called to do if you do it with fear of God. Are you saying 4 years is not enough to look? That is much more understandable if you base your request on that. Thi...eve..s!! You can't accomplish anything in 4 years and you believe 6 years will make any difference. That will only breed more corruption and bloodshed. Look at America, it is 4 years, yet they continuously develop the country with each term of 4 years given them. They know what is expected, so they come to work, not to ste...al. Unlike you people who come to look and share, so you want more to accommodate everyone in the sharing process. Shame on you all.
Power corrupt absolutely! Even dumsor after 60 years so call mps cannot fix & hearing him suggest this speaks volume how selfish & greedy these folks think about themselves.
I agree with Oko for the first time. I personally think 4-year term is not enough for developing country like ours. you have 4 years, putting your government together takes about 1 year off, you use about half a year to campaign for your term to be renewed. I personally think it should be 6-year term, renewed for another 6-year term OR at least two 5-year terms.
Where from this Ky3nky3 with this suggestion? Even with four years post Atta Mills you thiff all the goodies in Ghana. What if we give you two extra years? your thhieving party will run everything down and sell Ghana off. If you like ask Seth Tekper. He will tax everything including pensioners pay, condoms and akpeteshie. Like in the next two years, he will tax men for sleeping with their wives. Focking party filled with greedy bastards.
JUST LOOK AT THE MASTER KRIMINAL FULL !!!!: is he not aware that what he seeks to recommend can only be done through a referedum by Ghanaians because as far as it stands at the moment such a thing cannot be done -NO WAY !!!!; Ghanaians should remove indeminties covering all former Presidents for murder and steeling and that they should be prosecuted besides this Okoe Vanderpuje thinks Ghanaians are ***barred word*** !!!!!that they do not know it is another ploy by the NDC to extend their stilling spree when in power ; for me 4 years is enough because if you can not do the job withinn the 4 years period no amount of time if given will mean you can do the job ; if you are given 20 years you cannot do the job ; JJ Rawlings ruled Ghana for 20 years what did he achieve and do ; the man rather messed up Ghana and perpetuted stilling and murder in society ; today Ghana is called the GREED iin the society even the water we all drink today is grossly polluted by galamasey gold diggers ; there is a very good reason for allowing 4 years in power ; this on grounds of democracy ptherwise why does the full not suggest staying in power for ever or a one paty state called the NDC party led by thifs and rogues like Oko Vaderpuje !!!!.