The Executive Director of Atta-Mills Institute (AMI), Mr. Koku Anyidoho has called on the Nana Akufo-Addo government to implement the report ofthe Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) set up by the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
He siad this would be part of the ways of honouring the memory of the late Ghanaian leader who set up the committee to review the 1992 Constitution despite knowing that the committee will recommend that the powers of the executive president should be controlled.
Mr. Anyidoho made the appeal at a news conference in Accra yesterday to commemorate the 9th Anniversary of the demise of Ghana’s 3rd President of the Fourth Republic.
He stressed that the late President Mills took this bold step when he realised the need for a review.
“We are trying to point out to you the visionary thinking of President Mills. He foresaw that if nothing is done to the Constitution, there was no way Ghana is going to move forward…,” he said.
Touching on other areas of national priority as captured in the White paper, Mr Anyidoho explained that issue of presidential emoluments would not have become a problem if the President had accented to the White Paper and passed into law by Parliament.
“All the recommendations in this white paper must go to Parliament. If this had been done, we would not be here wasting energy on what we should have done 10 years ago.
“So as a President he wanted to be taxed or have his emoluments taxed. He did that so that if Ghanaians are being taxed it will be on record that he is also paying tax,” the former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC said.
He further added that President Mills wanted the media to be more independent and stronger to help promote the country’s democracy.
The AMI Boss, who recounted the achievements of his former boss including two universities said it is his responsibility to continue advocating the legacy of late President Mills adding that he will also prevail upon President Akufo Addo to have the white paper implemented.
“Late President Mills built two universities in two years but the point is that somebody must carry that load and we at Atta Mills Institute, we have decided to carry that load because he did a lot for the Country,” he added.
