Roger Agambire Agana calls for comprehensive overhaul of Ghana's constitution

Roger Agambire Agana, the President of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), has called for a significant overhaul of Ghana’s constitutional and legal framework. Mr. Agana, who is also the Managing Editor of News Ghana, argues that the current governance system must be reformed to align with modern economic realities and to better address pressing national challenges such as rising unemployment and inefficient public administration. He emphasizes that the existing framework needs to evolve to ensure it serves the long-term interests of the citizenry.

A central pillar of Agana's proposal is a shift toward competence-based appointments in the public sector. He criticized the current trend of excessive political appointments, which he believes often prioritizes partisan loyalty over professional capability. By opening up roles to a wider pool of skilled citizens rather than a small circle of politically connected individuals, Agana contends that the state can improve service delivery and ensure that national development objectives are met with greater expertise and efficiency.

Beyond personnel, the IFEJ President emphasized the need to rebalance the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He advocated for reforms that would strengthen the independence of Parliament, ensuring it can provide robust oversight and hold the government accountable. Such structural changes, he noted, are necessary to ensure that governance is driven by a unified national agenda rather than the short-term goals of whichever political party is in power.

In his concluding remarks, Agana urged stakeholders and policymakers to approach constitutional reform with a vision for Ghana's future stability and prosperity. He stressed that a deep structural review is essential for maintaining continuity in governance, which would prevent the abandonment of critical projects during political transitions. The goal, he stated, is a system that ensures accountability in implementation and fosters a more inclusive and resilient democratic framework for the next generation.