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The Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, has challenged legal practitioners and lawmakers to discuss the 1992 Constitution well enough to bring about its clear meaning.

He described the current constitution and other laws of the land as ambiguous, making it extremely difficult for the ordinary citizen to grasp their real meaning and understanding.

“Our lawmakers should be creative and ensure that any law they enact or promulgate would be addressed from the point of view of the people, not the Europeans,” he said.

Nana Nketsia was speaking at a one-day colloquium to commemorate the 800 years of the Magna Carta.

Magna Carta

The Magna Carta Charter was signed by King John of England in 1215. It is believed that the 800-year-old Charter is the foundation for the principles of freedom and equality in today’s legal system.

It laid the foundation for the assent of liberty and fundamental human rights, including due process, separation of powers, the elements of a fair trial and the right to counsel.

Colloquium
The colloquium was organised by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and brought together lawyers, historians, traditional leaders, lecturers and medical practitioners to deliberate on the Ghanaian legal system and what could be done to strengthen it.

Other speakers at the forum included the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, Mr Kwame Pianim, a senior economist and Dr Kofi Baku, a historian and lawyer.

Defining the Ghanaian society
At the forum which was also used to pay glowing tribute to the values and principles of the Charter, Nana Nketsia charged Ghanaians to define society from their own perspectives, “and not from the Westerners’ perspectives.”
That, he said, was one of the key ideals that Magna Carta had brought.

According to him, Ghanaians were in a fix as to fighting to become real Africans, describing that as inappropriate.
“Traditions must be defined from the perspective of truth and honesty and not a modernity that erodes the very best of society,” he stressed.

Dr Baku
Dr Baku cautioned Ghanaians to be careful and avoid being trapped in static traditions, as that was dangerous.
He added his voice to the call on lawyers and legal practitioners to educate society appropriately in order to transform it positively.

He stressed the need for the use of education as a tool to press for gender equality.
Contributing to the forum, a senior lawyer, Mr Sam Okudzeto, emphasised that lawyers owed it a duty to society to challenge issues not in favour of the general society.

GBA president
In a welcome address, the President of the GBA, Nene Abayateye Amegatcher, said the importance of the charter could not be underestimated.