Founder and Leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, has vowed to reduce the excessive powers granted to the President under Ghana’s Constitution, describing them as detrimental to democratic governance.

Speaking at the Presidential Encounters hosted by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on November 22, 2024, Mr. Kyerematen stated, “Although I am running for the presidency, my intention is to amend the Constitution to curtail the powers of the President before assuming office.”

This promise forms a core element of his Great Transformational Plan (GTP), which seeks to reform governance by decentralizing authority, limiting presidential influence, and fostering a balanced distribution of power.

A central feature of Mr. Kyerematen’s proposal is the establishment of a Second Chamber of Parliament. This body would comprise representatives from traditional leaders, religious groups, youth organizations, women’s groups, the business community, labour unions, and other stakeholders. It would be tasked with approving key appointments, including those of the Chief Justice, the Electoral Commissioner, and heads of security agencies.

“Expecting impartiality from bodies whose heads are appointed by the President is unrealistic,” he argued. “This setup does not align with true democratic principles and needs urgent revision.”

As part of his anti-corruption strategy, Mr. Kyerematen pledged to consolidate existing laws and create an independent anti-corruption agency with prosecutorial powers, entirely separate from the Attorney General’s Office. To ensure its independence, he proposed that the anti-corruption Czar be appointed by the Second Chamber of Parliament rather than the President.

“The anti-corruption Czar’s authority should stem from the Constitution, not presidential power,” he declared, adding that separating the Attorney General’s functions from anti-corruption work is crucial to maintaining integrity and accountability.

Mr. Kyerematen criticized both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing them of perpetuating corruption for political gain. On illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, he claimed, “Neither the NDC nor the NPP has shown a genuine commitment to ending galamsey because they have, in one way or another, profited from it.”

To address this issue, he proposed amending Article 257 of the Constitution to involve traditional authorities as co-trustees of natural resources. “It is irrational for the Minerals Commission to issue mining licences without the consultation of chiefs, who are custodians of the land,” he stated.

Mr. Kyerematen also took aim at inequalities in retirement benefits outlined in Article 71, which he argued unfairly favour a privileged group of public officials. “It is indefensible that teachers, healthcare workers, and others who dedicate their lives to public service retire with meagre pensions, while certain officials enjoy disproportionately generous benefits. This system must be reformed,” he said.

Concluding his address, Mr. Kyerematen stressed that constitutional reforms are essential to tackling corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and ensuring fairness. “I am not seeking the presidency to consolidate power but to distribute it among the people and institutions that will uphold our democracy,” he declared.

His Great Transformational Plan (GTP) is designed to confront Ghana’s entrenched challenges and establish a more inclusive and transparent system of governance.