Former Asante Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi has called for constitutional reforms to reduce the concentration of power in Ghana’s presidency, arguing that the current system gives presidents excessive influence over state appointments.
He said the concentration of appointment powers undermines collaboration and can leave important decisions dependent on the preferences of individual presidents rather than broader institutional interests.
Appiah-Kubi linked the issue to the controversy surrounding Emelia Agbenyo’s appointment as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
He argued that Ghana’s constitutional arrangements allow presidents to make appointments that may not satisfy public expectations, sometimes without sufficient consultation.
“In our constitution, the constitution does the opposite. It consolidates power into one person’s hand,” he said on Keypoints.
Appiah-Kubi called for a system that distributes power more effectively and encourages consultation before important appointments are made.
He also criticised the possibility of major state decisions being influenced by individuals outside formal government structures, including presidents’ spouses, rather than through established institutional processes.
The former MP said a more collaborative system would allow broader consideration of national interests and reduce the tendency for incoming presidents to reverse appointments made by their predecessors.
He argued that constitutional reforms should strengthen institutions and ensure continuity in governance, rather than allowing the direction of state institutions to change with each change of government.
