Minority Plays Key Role in Constitutional Amendments – Oliver Barker-Vormawor

Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Convener of the FixTheCountry Movement, has highlighted the significant influence that Ghana’s parliamentary minority holds in the constitutional amendment process, arguing that no political party can make unilateral changes to the Constitution.

Speaking on *JoyNews’ Newsfile* on Saturday, Barker-Vormawor emphasized that constitutional reforms are tightly bound by parliamentary procedures and cannot bypass the scrutiny of lawmakers. According to him, any proposed changes must go through Parliament and be approved by the people before they can take effect.

"Every discussion, every conversation regarding constitutional amendments must go through Parliament. Once the people approve, all changes are processed in Parliament," he said, clarifying the necessary steps.

He pointed out that the voting requirements for constitutional amendments ensure that the minority’s voice remains powerful, regardless of their size in Parliament. Barker-Vormawor explained that the minority's approval is crucial for reaching the required threshold for amendments.

"In my view, this is what makes the minority very powerful, even if they are small in number," he added.

Barker-Vormawor also rejected claims that any governing party, including the NDC, could independently make changes to the Constitution. He asserted that the constitutional amendment process requires the involvement of the minority.

“There’s no way any governing party, including the NDC, can change the Constitution without the minority being part of the process," he stated.

Furthermore, he observed that the legal procedures set in place for constitutional amendments foster bipartisan cooperation and ensure that all voices are considered in the process.

Source: mynews.gh