Politics

President Ramaphosa wants review of South Africa’s constitution. Here’s why

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2023

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has called for a review of the country’s 26-year-old constitution to determine its efficiency and whether it has “served the aspirations of our people”.

The president has had his reign threatened with scandals like the Farmgate, the continued failure in the power sector, and anti-government protests by the opposition, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party.

President Ramaphosa suggested that there was a need to reflect on laws that had been passed “since the beginning of our post-revolutionary period”.

He made the position while delivering the keynote address on the first day of the three-day national conference on the Constitution titled “Reflections and the Road Ahead”, saying a lot of progress had been made in redressing the injustices of the past since the Constitution came into effect.

“Despite numerous achievements, there are still many challenges in the realisation of the vision, values, and prescripts of our Constitution,” he said.

“The persistently high levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality, corruption, and violence show that our journey to the promised land is far from over.

“The contours of our racist and sexist past still feature in private and public institutions, in business, in access to skills, wealth, and opportunity, and in the spatial configuration of our cities, towns, and rural areas.”

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was approved by the Constitutional Court (CC) on 4 December 1996 and took effect on 4 February 1997. It is the supreme law of the land. No other law or government action can supersede the provisions of the Constitution.

Related Topics:Cyril Ramaphosa Featured South Africa

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.