Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM) has weighed in on the growing debate over Ghana’s costly by-elections, arguing that the conversation must shift from complaints to constitutional reform.
The discussion gained momentum following the passing of sitting MPs, with Engineer Kwabena Agyapong and IMANI Vice President Kofi Bentil questioning the heavy financial and security burden involved.
Agyapong particularly noted that deploying 5,000 police officers and other resources drains an already struggling economy.
KSM admitted that he once leaned toward this pragmatic view. “I actually said whatever happens… is not going to change the fundamental framework of parliament, so why can’t we just move on? Do we have to go through another election?” he recalled.
However, he acknowledged a counterargument he heard from a younger voice on Joy FM.
“A young man on Joy FM argued that no, KSM, that cannot be democracy because the democracy we are doing is based on the constitution.
“And the constitution actually demands that when a sitting member of parliament is no longer there must be a by-election. That, he said, is a constitutional provision.”
For KSM, this perspective reframes the issue. “You can’t just decide say okay for this one let me step aside the constitution and let’s do it this way.
“The law is the law no matter how many noises are made,” he said, before suggesting a bold step forward: “If in fact the constitution is the one that states that, then we should change the constitution,” the veteran satirist said on his KSM show monitred by MyNewsGh.
