We have to test the minds of Ghanaian presidents before giving them power – Former UN senior governance advisor
A former UN senior governance advisor, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has said Ghana must emulate best practices in countries like Malaysia where emphasis is placed on selecting leaders with integrity for public office.
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show Friday (5 April) on the latest ranking of Ghana as the fifth best-governed country in Africa, Agyeman-Duah said it is high time the country prioritises the mental state of potential leaders seeking public office in Ghana as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution.
“For instance, the [1992] Constitution says if you want to be president you have to be a citizen, not below forty years and of sane mind. The last requirement, I don’t know if we have ever tested the minds of those who want to seek public office,” he said.
“So in that respect, we have people coming to exercise that right, who may become a danger to the society that they want to rule. I have not said anyone has become a danger yet, but I’m saying that because we don’t scrutinise potential leaders [not only presidents] of our country, I think we have to be careful.”
Agyeman-Duah added, “As you know, on the campaign trail, people are making all kinds of promises and somebody is even suggesting to dredge the sea to somewhere up north. You wonder what their background or integrity is.”
