Among the issues tabled for discussion is the cancelation of the December 17 national referendum which was meant to decide on an amendment of Article 55 (3) of the Constitution to enable political parties to sponsor candidates during local level elections.
President Akufo-Addo in a brief address attributed the decision to the absence of “a durable national consensus” on the matter following consultations.
The decision attracted several reactions. While Ranking Member on the Constitutional Legal Affairs Committee in Parliament, Inusah Fuseini described it as a violation of Ghanaians rights, the opposition National Democratic Congress in a statement said, “the reason given by the president as basis for his decision to call off the Referendum [is] contrived and self-serving”.
Also to be discussed is whether or not corruption is getting somewhat or a lot worse. This follows a report by Centre for Democratic Development which says Ghanaians perceive at least “some” corruption in key public institutions, and a majority fear retaliation if they report graft to the authorities.
The panelists are Abdul Malik Kweku Baako [Editor-in-chief- of the new Crusading Guide newspaper], Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante [Director, Advocacy and Policy Engagement, CDD-Ghana], Suleman Braimah [Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa] and Kofi Bentil [Senior Vice President, Imani-Africa].
