Council of State member, Sam Okudzeto, has stated that Article 78 (1) of the 1992 Constitution is the ultimate cause of problems in Ghana.

This article mandates the appointment of Members of Parliament (MPs) as ministers of state.

He contends that this practice impedes the ability of the legislative branch to effectively check the executive branch, as mandated by the Constitution.

According to him, serving as both an MP and a minister of state undermines the necessary separation of powers between the legislative and executive arms of government.

The media reports that he emphasized that parliamentary duties demand full-time commitment and should not be combined with any other role.

"How do you check something when you have one foot here and another foot there; which one is checking which? This is the problem that we have as a country," he stated.

"Being an MP in my time from 1969 was a part-time job, but now Parliament is a full-time job, and that is all the more reason why they even say that if you are a lawyer and an MP and want to go to court, you must seek permission from the Speaker because you are supposed to represent the people and be present in the House," he is quoted as saying.

He added, "You are supposed to make contributions to debates and vote on every issue that comes before the House. So, I think we are getting ourselves a little confused on every issue."

He emphasized that without amending Article 78 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, Ghana will struggle to make progress in its development journey.

The legal expert also highlighted that due to the fundamental flaws in the constitution, Ghana, once seen as a leader on the African continent, is now lagging behind many countries.

"We can talk and talk, and we will not get anywhere. So, let us understand the fundamental principles since we want a constitution to govern the country. We are supposed to have set the standard for the rest of the continent.

"But I am afraid much of the continent is way ahead of us, and it is time for us to now sit down and evaluate the situation and do something which is reasonable; otherwise, I am afraid, we will be wasting our time," he said.