T &T Constitution reform overdue (Dr. Ghany, Nov 2004)

"As 2004 draws to a close, the country appears to be nowhere near the start of any formal exercise designed to embark on constitutional reform. The Government has made soundings on the issue since winning the October, 2002, general elections (and some of these were made in the heat of the 2003 Local Government elections). However, there has not been any official attempt to launch the process itself.There are those who argue that constitutional reform can, and ought to, take place outside of the formal arenas of State power and authority and, therefore, waiting on the Government to launch the exercise is a State-centred approach. While there may be merit in that argument, the reality is that nothing is going to happen with our Constitution if the formal wheels of State power do not start rolling anytime soon.In essence, the population must have some expression of their collective desire to seek constitutional reform in order for the Government to take this matter seriously.As it stands now, there is no urgency for the incumbent Government to do anything on the matter, as their current situation is one in which the existing system allows them to enjoy the spoils of office and excludes the Opposition entirely."