The Majority Leader in Parliament and MP for the Effutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s constitution to establish a clear separation of powers.
In an exclusive interview on the Happy Morning Show with Sefah-Danquah, Afenyo-Markin highlighted a key flaw in the current constitutional framework, noting that MPs are allowed to concurrently serve as ministers, blurring the lines between legislative and executive functions.
He emphasized the importance of achieving a proper balance between an MP’s responsibilities to their constituents and their obligations as government ministers.
“The way our constitution is structured, an MP can also double as a minister so we don’t really have full separation of powers and that is also a critical issue,” Afenyo-Markin explained.
He underlined the challenges faced by MPs who also hold ministerial positions, noting the inherent conflict between fulfilling constituency duties and executing government policies.
Afenyo-Markin argued that addressing this imbalance is essential to ensuring effective governance and uphold the principles of separation of powers.
Afenyo-Markin proposed a comprehensive review of the constitution to address these shortcomings, advocating for a system that maintains a clear distinction between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
“For us as legislators, I believe that it’s always about communication and how we present the issues,” Afenyo-Markin added.
He also acknowledged the challenges of electoral politics, where campaign promises often come under scrutiny once candidates assume office. Afenyo-Markin emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in political discourse to build trust between elected representatives and the electorate.
