The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has called on government to provide a clear timeline for implementing proposed constitutional reforms as Cabinet prepares to deliberate on recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Committee.
Speaking to Radio Ghana on the current state of the constitutional review process, Dr. Asante said Cabinet is expected to undertake extensive discussions on the committee’s recommendations during a retreat aimed at fully examining the proposals.
According to him, government is expected to make its position on the recommendations public after Cabinet concludes its deliberations and should subsequently establish an implementation mechanism to oversee legislative reforms and stakeholder engagement.
“We expect that government will publish its disposition paper and proceed to either form an implementation committee that will work on legislation and engagement around the policy process,” he stated.
While acknowledging progress made so far, Dr. Asante stressed the need to accelerate the reform process.
“We think time has passed and we need to accelerate the process,” he said.
Ghana’s constitutional reform journey has been underway for more than a decade. The current review process gained momentum when John Dramani Mahama established a Constitutional Review Committee in 2023 to examine the operation of the 1992 Constitution and recommend reforms. Following nationwide consultations, the committee submitted its report to the President in December 2025.
Government has since announced plans to establish a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to guide the next phase of the reform process.
Dr. Asante noted that Ghana has undertaken constitutional review exercises in the past, but many recommendations were never implemented. He argued that the success of the current process will depend on whether the proposals are translated into concrete reforms.
“We have already done constitutional reform reports. The real difference will be whether we have been able to move from report to actual implementation,” he emphasized.
Among the key reform proposals attracting public interest are the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), the separation of Parliament from the Executive by ending the constitutional requirement that a majority of ministers be appointed from Parliament, strengthening local governance and decentralization, judicial reforms, regulation of discretionary powers of constitutional officeholders, enhancement of accountability and anti-corruption institutions, and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression.
Dr. Asante maintained that constitutional reforms are essential for improving governance and supporting national development. He said reforms should strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and enable state institutions to respond more effectively to citizens’ needs.
He also underscored the importance of public participation, revealing that a platform comprising more than 90 organizations has been established to promote citizen engagement and public education on the proposed reforms.
“What we need right now is a clear timeline to help citizens engage,” he said.
Civil society organisations, including CDD-Ghana, have consistently called for the publication of the full Constitutional Review Committee report to enable broader public scrutiny and participation. They have also warned that constitutional amendment procedures, particularly those involving entrenched provisions, require extensive consultations and lengthy processes, making timely action critical.
Dr. Asante reiterated that constitutional reform enjoys broad public support and urged government to ensure that the current review process does not suffer the fate of previous reform efforts that failed to move beyond the recommendation stage.
By Mary Batashia
