Discussants from the Bono Region have offered a wide range of perspec­tives on the ongoing nationwide consultation of the review of the 1992 constitution at a forum or­ganised by the Constitution Review Committee here yesterday.The views included a call for the amendment of the Local Govern­ment Act, Act 936 to involve tradi­tional authorities in the collection of property rate or tax for national development.They were of the view that the influence and power traditional au­thorities wield over their communi­ties can be leveraged by the District assemblies to ensure compliance with the payment of property rates in the country.According to them, the current modalities where the assemblies appoint people to collect property tax create loopholes for exploita­tion by revenue collectors, leading to huge revenue losses for national development."Another challenge comes from the lack of education on property rates.

So some people don't see the essence of paying the tax.

So chiefs in partnership with assembly mem­bers can collect property tax for the District assemblies," they explained.The public engagement attracted a cross-section of members of the general public, including academia, traditional authorities, public servants, members of the security services and the clergy, among others.Contributing to discussions on the amendment of the 1992 constitution, the participants also stressed the need for a constitu­tional provision that would ensure that persons with disabilities with request academic qualifications are employed in public institutions to make life better for them.The stakeholders also suggested the need for the state to pass a law to regulate religious practices to en­sure and further prevent unscrupu­lous persons hiding behind religion to dupe the people."If everybody wants to manifest their fate, there will be total chaos in the country," they mentioned.They also called for constitution­al provisions to prevent the pres­ident from appointing people to head institutions such as, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), CHRAJ, the Judiciary, among others, to guarantee their independence.The Chairman of the Constitu­tion Review Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, in his opening remarks, noted that the 1992 constitution is a living docu­ment.

It must take account of the growth and learning of society and the state, so that at any time we are averted by a document that reflects the realities of our lives as people.According to him, the ongoing nationwide consultation exercise by the Constitution Review Com­mittee was a campaign pledged by President John Dramani Mahama to reset Ghana, and he called on the people to make meaningful contributions to the exercise being carried out to ensure a useful outcome.The Bono Regional Minister, Jo­seph Addae Akwaboah, in a speech read on his behalf, indicated that the ongoing consultation offers a unique opportunity for various segments of our society to make meaningful inputs to deepen our democracy.The 1992 constitution, he emphasised, has safeguarded and promoted the peace and stability of the country, and commended Ghanaians for showing interest in the ongoing nationwide consulta­tion exercise. FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH, SUNYANI