Ernesto Yeboah, the Commander-in-Chief of the Economic Fighters League—a non-partisan political movement—has firmly dismissed proposals to amend the qualifications for individuals seeking to represent their constituents in Parliament.
He argued that implementing a rule to allow only those with university degrees to be elected would be a regressive and terrible decision for the nation’s democracy.
According to Yeboah, the current system must remain intact to ensure that Ghanaian voters retain the ultimate power to decide who is best suited to represent them.
Under the present constitutional framework, a person qualifies for Parliament if they are a Ghanaian citizen aged 21 or older, a registered voter, meet specific residency requirements, and are in good standing regarding their tax obligations.
The Constitution does not mandate a specific level of formal education for aspirants.
Addressing questions on whether Article 94 should be amended to include a degree requirement, Ernesto Yeboah expressed strong disagreement.
He stated that such a change would deprive the country of the opportunity to benefit from the wisdom of individuals who, despite being unlettered, possess profound leadership qualities.
He maintained that wisdom is paramount and that the choice should rest entirely with the constituents.
“If a community is aware that a candidate lacks formal education but still trusts their judgement and character, that choice must be respected.
Ernesto Yeboah further observed that the challenges facing the current Parliament do not stem from a lack of knowledge, as many sitting Members of Parliament are highly educated.
He pointed out the irony that these well-lettered individuals are often the ones who negotiate poor national deals, such as the recent lithium agreement. This suggests that a degree is not a guaranteed shield against poor governance or bad policy-making.
To support his stance, he pointed to the late Madam Akua Donkor, founder of the Ghana Freedom Party.
He described her as a prime example of someone who lacked formal education but possessed the wisdom to offer insightful arguments on the management of Ghana’s natural resources.
Ernesto Yeboah suggested that if one reviews her positions on policy initiatives, it becomes clear that wisdom is often more vital for managing a country than a certificate.
He also addressed the practical concern of language barriers within the house. He proposed that for representatives who are unlettered or not fluent in English, the state can simply employ the services of professional interpreters.
This would allow proceedings to be translated into languages the representatives understand, ensuring that wisdom is never barred from the halls of power by a language gap.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
