APA – Accra (Ghana)
The call by President Akufo-Addo on Ghanaians to continue to embrace the basic values of the Constitution, founded on the principles of democratic accountability and respect for the rule of law, human rights and individual liberty and freedom is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has once again urged Ghanaians to continue to embrace the basic values of the Constitution, founded on the principles of democratic accountability and respect for the rule of law, human rights and individual liberty and freedom.
He said the greater majority of the people believed those principles must form the bedrock of national development and individual prosperity.
In a video broadcast to commemorate the Constitution Day last Saturday, President Akufo-Addo, however, stressed that alongside the freedom guaranteed under the Constitution, “we must, with the same passion and commitment, uphold our individual and collective responsibility to contribute proactively towards the greater good of society.
This is the vision of a free society”.
“No society can be truly free unless its citizens feel the need to embrace both liberty and duty, hard work and compassion,” he added.
The Constitution Day, which replaced the Republic Day on July 1, was first marked in January 2019 with a public lecture delivered by Prof. Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, who was then the Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
The President has on many occasions emphasised the need to uphold the Constitution and democratic principles.
On the 31st anniversary of the 1992 Constitution, the President said Ghana was considered a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, and the celebration of Constitution Day should inspire Ghanaians even further to hold on to this enviable status.
The newspaper says that a former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has suggested that election petitions that does not succeed should attract sanctions.
That, he said, was to prevent election petitions from becoming a ‘wanton’ fashion.
He said it appeared that some candidates rushed to court with election petitions alleging manipulation of results primarily to placate their financiers and supporters.
That, Dr Afari-Gyan said was to ensure that they (candidates) were given another chance.
“The rush can cause undeserved injury to the reputation of the Electoral Commission (EC) and unnecessary intimidation of the courts, the longest serving Chairman of the commission said, and cited Nigeria where there were 1,000 petitions before the courts after the 2023 elections.
Dr Afari-Gyan said this yesterday in a public lecture in Accra to commemorate the Constitution Day which fell on January 7, organised by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and the One Ghana Movement.
The lecture also featured two former Attorney-Generals and Ministers of Justice, Joe Ghartey and Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong and a former Commissioner of the Commission on
Human Rigghts and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short, as guest speakers.
The Graphic also reports that Ghana’s preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are raising concerns just six days before the Black Stars commence their campaign in the Ivory Coast.
In their final friendly match on Monday evening, the Black Stars settled for a lacklustre goalless draw against Namibia at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. The uninspiring performance left fans disappointed and questioning the team’s capability to make a significant impact in the upcoming tournament.
Despite being ranked 61st by FIFA, the four-time African champions struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against Namibia, ranked 115th. The stalemate marks Ghana’s fifth game under Coach Chris Hughton, with only one victory against Madagascar and defeats to Mexico, USA, and Comoros.
The 0-0 draw with Namibia is particularly alarming for Ghana, as it signifies the fifth instance where the team failed to score under Hughton’s management.
The first half of the game which was not broadcast on television at coach Hughton’s insistence showcased an uninspiring performance, with a marginal improvement in the second half, yet the Black Stars were unable to put the Namibians to the sword.
Despite substitutions implemented by Hughton in the latter part of the match, Namibia resiliently held on for the draw, leaving fans at the stadium disappointed.
As Ghana struggles to exhibit an intense style of play, apprehensions are growing ahead of their Group B opener against Cape Verde on January 14. The Black Stars will face additional challenges in the group stage, taking on seven-time African champions Egypt before concluding their group fixtures against Mozambique.
GIK/APA
Ghanaian press focuses on President’s call for embracing values of Constitution, others
