The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has joined Ghanaians in the country and across the world in commemorating Ghana’s maiden Constitution Day today Monday, January 7, 2019.
The day has also been set aside to acknowledge the country’s collective efforts at ensuring that the tenets of democracy, rule of law and principles of constitutionalism are upheld.
It is in recognition of the commencement of the 4th Republican constitutional dispensation on January 7, 1993.
As part of activities to commemorate the day, the Ministry of Information has put together a public lecture.
The Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, would deliver the address at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The topic for the lecture is “Constitutionalism in Ghana’s Fourth Republic: Towards Functional Performance.”
The NPP, in a statement issued by its General Secretary, John Boadu observed that “the Constitution Day, which signals the birth of the fourth republic, undoubtedly marks a significant milestone in the history of Ghana’s constitutional democracy.”
“It reminds us of our renewed and unfettered commitment to upholding the very tenets of rule of law, charter of liberty, constitutionalism and democratic governance.”
“It reminds us, more importantly, of our collective commitment to a regime of an uninterrupted constitutional order.”
The solemn commitment, the statement said, was manifested on January 7, 1993, with the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which ushered in the 4th Republican dispensation, the most enduring Republic in our history which is 26 years today and counting.
“It said it’s our conviction that this is the last of the Republics and that the 4th Republican Constitution shall remain the supreme and fundamental law of Ghana and only subject to amendments or reviews as and when necessary.
“It is in recognition of this that the Akufo-Addo government has set aside the 7th of January each year as Constitution Day ostensibly to celebrate the country’s enviable democratic feats and also remind us of the commencement of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution, the most efficacious and ever-lasting in our history.
According to the statement, “The day is accordingly declared as a public holiday due to its great significance.”
“Hitherto, July 1, which day ushered in the 1st Republican Constitution of 1960, was celebrated as a Republic Day in Ghana and observed as a public holiday.”
“However, the 1st Republican Constitution, just like the 2nd and the 3rd, was effectively truncated and repudiated by military interventions until the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, which ushered in the current 4th Republic and put the country on the path of sustained and uninterrupted constitutional order.”
By Melvin Tarlue, DGN
