Establish national values commission — Prof. Quashigah
The Dean of the School of Law, College of Humanities of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Edward Kofi Quashigah, has called for the establishment of a National Values Identification and Actualisation Commission (NVIAC).
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The commission, when established, would work from the community to the national level to instil values synonymous with the country’s traditions and also work to ensure that such ethics were upheld by all.
According to him, “that is the way forward if the constitution is to be understood and operated as a sacred charge to all Ghanaians”.
Prof. Quashigah made the call at an inaugural lecture on the topic, “Constitution building, constitutionalism and national values: Whither Ghana?”
Purpose
The inaugural lecture was organised by the university to showcase Prof. Quashigah’s work and achievements and to share his research work and interests to the public.
The lecture was in three parts; reviewing the constitutional health of Ghana, looking at other areas of his research and sharing future efforts to contribute to research in the country.
The programme attracted many dignitaries from his family, the government, academia, friends and school mates.
Constitutionalism
Prof. Quashigah noted that since independence, elected governments had not pursued the principles of constitutions.
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He said that was because they lacked the values critical for supporting the exercise of powers conferred by the constitution.
Prof. Quashigah debunked the notion that constitutionalism was a system by which constitutions limited the powers of governments.
Rather, he said, constitutionalism was all about the values that clothed the bare constitutional skeletons.
Prof. Quahsigah further pointed out that Ghana did not need a constitutional review, “we need a Ghana idea”.
He said the 1992 Constitution, the National Anthem and the Pledge were replete with the values that could be the starting point for the establishment of the NVIAC.
Centre for Reflection
Sharing his research interests and publications in comparative law, human rights, alternative dispute resolution and education, Prof. Quashigah announced the establishment of the West African Consortium on Law and Constitutionalism.
He said among other things, the consortium would encourage reflection on life and society.
Reminiscing about his days as a schoolboy, he recalled the beauty and serenity of the Keta Lagoon and the sea, which, he said, had sown the seeds of quietness and reflection in him.
The dean also expressed his commitment to establish a Centre for Quiet Reflection at Sogakope such as the Bogliasco Foundation in Italy where people could visit for thorough reflections.
Values
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, said contending values resulted in political leadership’s quest to change constitutional rules.
In the ensuing melee of unconstitutional acts, “you listen to radio these days and you hear people redefining what is good and what is bad,” he said.