Human rights activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has called for the removal of constitutional provisions that shield Ghanaian presidents from prosecution after leaving office, describing such clauses as enablers of impunity.

“The Constitution cannot preach justice while entrenching impunity. We have also argued that Presidents should not be shielded from prosecution after their tenure,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 25.

Section 57 of the 1992 constitution states that "Civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against a person within three years after his ceasing to be President, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him in his personal capacity before or during his term of office notwithstanding any period of limitation except where the proceedings had been legally barred before he assumed the office of President."

Per the law, the President shall not, while in office as President, be personally liable to any civil or criminal proceedings in court.

Barker-Vormawor also advocated for the abolition of the Council of State, labeling it an irrelevant institution.

“The abolishment of the Council of State is what we have called for. We believe that if we move forward without it, nobody would even remember it exists,” he stated.

Additionally, he called for judicial restructuring and emphasized that the President must be subject to taxation like every other citizen, insisting there should be no exceptions.

His proposals come amid growing calls for constitutional reforms aimed at enhancing accountability and fairness within Ghana’s governance and legal systems.