Change the constitution to control powers of the executive – Former NPP MP
Former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, citing concerns over the excessive powers granted to the executive branch.
Speaking during an interview on TV3 on Saturday, April 12, 2025, the former lawmaker and legal practitioner described the current constitutional arrangement as “sick,” arguing that it contradicts the principles of constitutionalism taught in law schools.
“The constitution is sick. Let us use the constitutional review process to address areas of concern rather than trivial issues,” Appiah-Kubi said. “The consolidation of power in one person’s hand is dangerous.”
He criticized the structure of the constitution for placing overwhelming authority in the hands of a single individual — the president — warning that such centralization makes the system vulnerable to abuse and inefficiency.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Appiah-Kubi explained that the over-concentration of power could lead to executive overreach, where appointments to key national institutions become skewed in favour of allies, undermining national development.
“If that one individual on a bad day has challenges, the entire country suffers,” he cautioned. “We are building a country — not chiefdoms or kingdoms.”
He further argued that the executive presidential model is not in tune with African governance traditions and must be re-evaluated.
The former MP’s comments came during a panel discussion focused on the constitutionality of President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of post-retirement contracts — a move that has recently sparked legal and political debate.
Appiah-Kubi’s remarks align with growing calls from civil society, legal experts, and some politicians for a renewed constitutional review process, particularly targeting executive overreach and institutional independence.
