La Wulomo, Nuumo Yemoh Obroni VIII, has questioned the rationality of the 1992 constitution over its criteria for who can become president of the Republic of Ghana.
Article 62 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution outlines the qualifications for election as President, requiring candidates to be Ghanaian citizens by birth, at least forty years old, and otherwise eligible to be elected as a Member of Parliament.
Engaging the media at Tuesday’s demonstration to compel President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to prevent the sale of these hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, owned by Ghana’s Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, the La Wulomo vented his displeasure over the qualifications as indicated in the constitution.
He believes that anyone capable of handling the affairs of the country, regardless of their age- once considered an adult, should not be barred from contesting to become president.
He questioned the fairness of the constitution at the time it was enforced. In 1992, Ghana was governed by the late Jerry John Rawlings. Nuumo Yemoh Obroni VIII quizzed whether Rawlings had attained the age of 40 before being allowed to be President.
Checks by TIGpost indicate that Rawlings was over 40 years old in 1992. The late Rawlings born on June 22, 1947, was 45 years old in 1992.
Meanwhile, respected lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata has rubbished the often touted claim that the 1992 Constitution was specifically designed to empower, as well as protect the man who assented it into law, the late Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, first President of the Fourth Republic.
“When I hear a call for review of the Constitution that is based on the wholly false premise that it was a Constitution just designed for Flt. Lt. Rawlings, I wonder if it is just ignorance or brazen falsehood or perhaps a toxic combination of the two that is on display”.