Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for a stricter separation of powers in Ghana’s system of governance to improve accountability and strengthen democratic institutions.
Speaking in an interview on the AM Show, Mr Kufuor said the executive arm of government must be more accountable to the Parliament of Ghana, particularly in matters relating to public spending and national policy implementation.
“The legislature should be the people’s representatives — there to control the budget, the purse of the state,” he said. “The executive should seek authorisation from the legislature to make the budget to run the government.”
According to the former president, the current governance arrangement under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana does not sufficiently separate the powers of the executive and the legislature.
He expressed concern about the constitutional provision that allows the president to appoint ministers directly from Parliament, arguing that the practice weakens the legislature’s ability to independently scrutinise the executive.
Mr Kufuor said in a well-functioning democracy the executive should develop policies and budgets and then submit them to Parliament for approval on behalf of citizens.
He noted that Parliament should not simply endorse decisions already made by the executive.
Calls for governance reforms have been raised over the years by several public figures, including former President Jerry John Rawlings, as well as civil society organisations.
Mr Kufuor, who served as president from 2001 to 2009 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said strengthening the independence of Parliament would improve accountability and deepen democratic governance in Ghana.
