President Kufuor calls for stronger separation of powers, greater parliamentary control over national budget

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has advocated for a more rigorous separation of powers in Ghana’s governance framework, asserting that the executive branch must be held more accountable to Parliament, especially in matters of public expenditure and the execution of national policies.

In an interview on the AM Show, Mr Kufuor emphasised that the future of the country’s constitution should guarantee that the legislature operates fully as the representatives of the people and maintains strict oversight over the national budget.

“The legislature should be the people’s representatives there to control the budget, the purse of the state,” he stated. “The executive should seek authorisation from the legislature to make the budget to run the government.”

According to the former president, Ghana’s current governance setup under the 1992 Constitution fails to adequately distinguish between the powers of the executive and the legislature.

He raised concerns about the provision allowing the president to appoint ministers directly from Parliament, arguing that this arrangement blurs the boundaries between the two branches of government and impairs Parliament’s ability to conduct independent oversight of the executive.

President Kufuor maintained that in a properly functioning democracy, the executive should formulate policies and budgets initially and then submit them to the legislature for approval on behalf of the citizens.

He suggested that Parliament should not merely ratify policies after they have already been finalised by the executive.

The concern has been voiced over the years by various public figures, including former President Jerry John Rawlings, as well as civil society organisations pushing for reforms in governance.

President Kufuor, who served two terms as president from 2001 to 2009 under the New Patriotic Party, stated that enhancing Parliament’s independence would improve accountability and further strengthen Ghana’s democratic governance.

Editor:

Obiri-Yeboah