Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the establishment of a second parliamentary chamber to vet appointments to independent institutions such as the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA).
Speaking at a media forum organized by the Africa Media Bureau in Accra on Friday, September 26, 2025, Mr. Kufuor cautioned that the President’s current authority to make such appointments grants undue political advantage.
While backing Ghana’s executive presidency, he stressed the need for stronger checks and balances.
He suggested that a second chamber, rather than the Council of State, should be legally mandated to conduct vetting, ensuring appointees can function independently.
Mr. Kufuor also dismissed ongoing suggestions for a merger of the NMC and NCA, insisting reforms should instead focus on safeguarding institutional independence.
“I will say on the principles of checks and balances, I might consider that idea that instead of the Council of State, I will suggest a second chamber, which will be composed of institutions, and that is where appointments to independent bodies like the NMC and NCA can be made.”
“It shouldn’t be just the president saying so. There should be a body within the law, which is the second chamber, doing the vetting for people who will be recommended. So when they get their positions to be independent, they will work as such,” he explained.
