Campaigns in Guinea have ended ahead of a referendum on a new constitution on Sunday in the West African country’s efforts to return to civilian rule.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah said voters in the country desire a “dynamic of change” which the new constitution would provide, in an interview with AFP.
He said the draft constitution “takes into account all the demands” that Guineans have wanted in recent decades, such as “independent candidacies and the right to petition”.
“Guinea aspires to a dynamic of change and unity that will put aside rifts, divisions, ethnic contradictions, to align itself with a development logic,” he said.
The new constitution would create a Senate and increase the presidential term from five years to seven, renewable once.
The president would directly appoint one-third of senators, with two-thirds selected by municipal and regional councils.
More than 6.7 million voters are registered, and the new constitution would be adopted if more than 50% of those voting approve it.
The West African country has major mineral resources, notably bauxite, the chief mineral used in the production of aluminium, and also iron, gold and diamonds.
It has benefited from strong GDP growth over the past few years, according to a recent report from the World Bank.
SOURCE:TRT Afrika and agencies