By: Murtala Issah
The Trades Union Congress, TUC, has likened Ghana’s Democracy to North Korea, saying the 1992 constitution is no longer serving Ghanaians.
The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah, made these remarks at the opening of the Biennial National Congress of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Tamale.
He noted that, the 1992 constitution gives too much power to the Executive whiles citizens have very little space to influence change except to vote in the General Elections.
Dr. Yaw Baah therefore urged UTAG to support efforts to review the constitution of Ghana to limit the powers of the executive, ensure good governance, safeguard democracy and return power to citizens.
The 1992 cosntitution is the Supreme Law of the Ghana. It was promulgated on the 7th of January 1993 following a referendum that ushered in the fourth republic.
The fourth republican constitution is rhe longest serving constitution, under which Ghana has enjoyed multiparty democracy and peacful transition of power from one party to the other. However, after thirty one years of the birth of the constitution, many have identified loopholes which are considered inimical to the lobg term stability of the nation.
Among the various individuals, groups and institutions is the Ghana Trades Union Congress, the biggest umbrella body of labour unions in the country.
At the 21st Biennial National Congress of University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Tamale, the Secretary General of the TUC, Dr Yaw Baah, added his voice to calls to review the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that constitution has become a barrier to transform Ghana as it concentrates power in the hands of the President. He warned that, unless the constitution is changed, Ghanaians cannot expect to see any meaningful progress.
Dr. Yaw Baah, likened Ghana under the 1992 constitution to North Korea where citizens only vote to elect the President and give him power to do what he wants.
“This constitution is making Ghana’s Democracy like North Korea, North Korea is called Democratic Republic of Korea. But you know the kind of system there. It’s similar to Ghana, because you know, all what the citizens do is to go for elections in December, queue, vote and give all the power to one person to whatever they want. Then four years, they call us again, they take our thumb print, we vote for another one person, he takes all the decisions. So this country can never be tranaformed if this thing should continue,” he said to a loud applause.
Dr. Yaw Baah therefore called on UTAG to rally its members and support efforts to change the constitution.
“That constitution is no longer serving us and we have to change it. We have to come together as trade unions, as organised labour and lead the transformation and that transformation can only appear if we change of this country,” he stressed.
Dr. Yaw Baah also revealed that, the TUC will present a manifesto drafted by organised Labour to all flagbearers ahead of the 2024 General election.
“We are meeting the flagbearer on 7th November, and we are going to give him what we call the workers manifesto and we tell him that, you are the flagbearer of the NDC, if you are preparing your manifesto, we expect it to reflect the worker’s will and wishes and that of course includes the change of the constitution, in fact that is number one,” he revealed , adding that, same will be done for all flagbearers in the 2024 elections.
The 21st Beinnial UTAG National Congress saw the induction of new executives to run the affairs of the association for the next two years.
The 2023 Congress, taking place at the UDS in Tamale is on the theme: “Labour Unionism and Socio-economic Transformation in Ghana: Can UTAG Be the Pacesetter?”
The Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) who chaired the opening ceremony, called for unity among the rank and file of University teachers, to ensure progress.
