Constitution Review Committee nears completion of draft report

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) will present a draft report on the review of the 1992 Constitution to President John Dramani Mahama by the first week of October.

The Secretary of the CRC, Dr. Rainer Akumperigya, said: “We are working hard to finalise the draft report, and we expect to present it to the President by the end of September or early October.”

He explained that the committee had engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including the Council of State and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and was considering all submissions received. Key issues raised during consultations included presidential term limits, reducing the excessive powers of the President, the appointment of ministers from Parliament, and the election of metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs).

Dr. Akumperigya noted that after submitting the draft report, the CRC would continue to work with Parliament and the Executive to ensure smooth implementation. He stressed that the committee’s role would not end with the report submission, as it would still be required to provide clarifications to Parliament and other stakeholders.

According to him, the committee’s recommendations would be drafted into bills for consideration by Parliament. Recommendations affecting entrenched clauses would require a referendum with at least 40 percent voter turnout and 75 percent approval.

He added that the committee had consulted experts, including former Supreme Court judges and constitutional law scholars, to draw insights from global best practices while ensuring the proposals fit Ghana’s context.

The CRC expressed gratitude to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for its support in organising zonal engagements. It acknowledged the contributions of chiefs, traditional leaders, regional ministers, MMDCEs, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities, and the general public.

Background
President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the CRC on January 25 under the chairmanship of Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh. Its mandate is to identify areas of the Constitution that require updating to meet Ghana’s evolving democratic and socio-economic realities, review past recommendations, and propose reforms to strengthen governance.

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